Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of domiciliary care allowance claims that have been approved and refused since the administration of the scheme was taken over by her Department in 2009; the number of these refusals that were for children with autism spectrum disorder, ASD; her plans to recognise ASD as a condition under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22222/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department has had responsibility for processing domiciliary care allowance claims since 1st April 2009. The following table sets out the most up to date statistics available on all applications received for the scheme.

In the period 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2011, a total of 920 applications were processed with a medical condition within the autism spectrum. Of these, 507 (55%) were deemed to satisfy the qualifying criteria, with 413 (45%) not satisfying the criteria.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is treated in the same manner as any other disability or condition under the scheme. Qualification for the scheme is not based on the disability of the child but on the level of additional care required. In order to qualify for domiciliary care allowance, a child must have a disability so severe that it requires him/her to need care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age and must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.