Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will publish the protocols governing decision making under the domiciliary care allowance scheme. [23813/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In advance of the transfer of the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) scheme to the Department, an expert medical group was established to agree a set of consistent and objective guidelines for use nationally in determining eligibility of children for the scheme. This group was established as there were no agreed medical guidelines for the scheme while it was administered by the HSE. The group was chaired by the Department's Chief Medical Advisor and comprised senior medical personnel from the HSE as well as eminent professionals in the areas of physical disabilities which affect children and child psychiatry/psychology. The primary purpose was to agree a set of consistent and objective guidelines for use in determining eligibility for the scheme. The report of the Group was reviewed independently by external medical experts. The report of the Expert Medical Group is available from the Department on request. A copy will be forwarded to the Deputy.