Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 28 February 2012, the reason the domiciliary care allowance has been withdrawn, following reviews, in several cases concerning children with autism, particularly given the way this condition is a lifelong disability. [14273/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment to the parent/guardian of a child with a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age. This care and attention must be provided to allow the child to deal with the activities of daily living and the child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility for the domiciliary care allowance is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition of the child, but on the level of the resultant need for continuous extra care and attention. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking account of the evidence submitted. No specific condition or disability rules a child in or out of qualification for the allowance.

DCA cases are routinely reviewed to ensure that the conditions for receipt of the payment continue to be met. In the cases referred to by the Deputy, neither the child's condition/disability or its duration is an issue. What is being assessed is the level of additional care and attention the child needs on a continual basis because of that condition/disability and whether this is substantially more than would be required by a child of the same age who does not have that condition/disability. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that those children who meet the conditions for the scheme will continue to receive the payment.