Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the review group on domiciliary care allowance is due to report back; if she will reassure recipients of domiciliary care allowance who are worried about the implications of any possible cuts to domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40084/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The working group is due to report on the review of the domiciliary care allowance scheme by the end of December 2012.

The group’s terms of reference include the review of the following; the policy objectives of the scheme, the administrative, medical assessment and appeals processes and the medical guidelines for the scheme. The group has also been asked to liaise with the Advisory Group on Tax and Welfare in the context of their review of DA/DCA issues and incorporate any relevant findings into the administrative arrangements for the DCA scheme and having considered these issues, to recommend whether any legislative changes are required in relation to the scheme and whether the current operation of the scheme needs further refinement to meet the overall policy objectives.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the potential recommendations of the group until they have completed their work and their report has been duly considered. The Deputy should note that no individual customer eligibility reviews will be undertaken while the review of the scheme is ongoing.