Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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52. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were and are in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance who were called upon by her Department to undergo a medical assessment over the past five years. [34818/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The domiciliary care allowance scheme (DCA) transferred to the Department of Social Protection in 2009 and is now paid to over 28,500 parents/guardians in respect of some 30,700 children.

All applications for DCA are subject to a medical assessment, there has been over 25,000 new applications received in the last 5 years. Once awarded, entitlement can be reviewed periodically to confirm continued eligibility. A total of 909 eligibility reviews, also involving medical assessments have been carried out in the last 5 years.

Medical assessments for DCA are conducted by the Department’s medical assessors who, having examined the medical evidence and other supporting information provided by the applicant, provide an opinion on medical eligibility for the benefit of a deciding officer.