Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

57. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on extending eligibility for the domiciliary care allowance to persons aged under 18 years of age. [29700/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that I commissioned two reports relating to the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) scheme during 2012. One of these reports dealt specifically with the relationship between DCA and Disability Allowance (DA) for young adults. A recommendation to extend the age limit for receipt of DCA to 18 years of age was included in both of these reports, which were published in April 2013.

The reports found that there was a strong rationale for raising the DCA age threshold to 18 years. The recommendation is that this change should be made from a specific date, with the age threshold for payment of DCA to increase to age 18 for all new and existing claimants aged 16 and under on that date. On this same date the age threshold for payment of DA would change to age 18, to apply to new claimants only.

However, the Deputy will be aware that there are differing views on the best way to proceed so as to provide support to the group of people in question. While the recommendations of the reports will be kept under consideration as part of ongoing review of the wider disability area, there are no plans to change the age limits for receipt of DCA/DA at this time.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

58. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the gap between eligibility for domiciliary care allowance and eligibility for disability allowance, when a person reaches 16 years of age. [29701/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

59. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the assistance that is provided to persons who are eligible for domiciliary care allowance but not for the disability allowance, on reaching 16 years of age. [29702/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together.

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is paid in respect of children who have a severe disability requiring constant care and attention substantially in excess of that needed by a child of the same age without the disability. The need for the additional care and attention must be likely to last for at least 12 months. DCA, which is not means-tested, is payable in respect of qualified children to age 16 years, after which they may apply for disability allowance (DA) in their own right.

However, the qualifying conditions for DA are very different to DCA. To qualify for a DA payment a person must: be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment; be aged between 16 and 65; satisfy a means test; and be habitually resident in the State. Therefore a child is not automatically entitled to DA because a DCA was in payment.

While I have no plans to adjust the age limit for receipt of DCA or DA at this time, the issue of how best to provide income supports, where needed, to children with a disability between 16 and 18 years of age, will be considered in the context of any general reforms to disability support payments.