John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has commissioned any reports into the impact of the domiciliary care allowance review on vulnerable children; if not, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23998/12]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has commissioned any reports into the impact of the domiciliary care allowance review on vulnerable children; if not, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23995/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together.

The domiciliary care allowance (DCA) scheme has been administered by the Department of Social Protection since April 2009 and I have recently announced that a review of the operation of the scheme is to be carried out over the coming months. This review will look at, amongst other things, the current application and assessment process and identify any potential improvements to the delivery of service to customers that can be implemented while retaining an efficient and effective operational model. The terms of reference for the review are being finalised at present and it is expected that it will commence shortly.

As the Deputies are aware, DCA is a monthly payment to the parent/guardian of a child 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. 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.

Individual claims are reviewed by the Department to ensure that payment continues to be made to all parents/guardians whose children have an on-going need for this support.

To date, the Department has not commissioned any report on the scheme.