Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been refused domiciliary care allowance; if she would be prepared to review legislation in respect of this payment to allow parents of children with a physical disability to claim until the child reaches an age that may be deemed applicable to living an independent life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17426/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on 24th February 2010. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on 22nd April 2010 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision.

She was informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 8th November 2010 that the appeal had been disallowed. The decision/appeal process for this application is now complete. If the person concerned has additional information which was not made available to the deciding officer and appeals officer when they made their decisions, it is open to her to re-apply for the payment.

DCA is a monthly payment to the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 with a disability so severe that the child requires care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age.