Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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316. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23455/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The person concerned applied for domiciliary care allowance in respect of her child on 4 February 2016. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued to her on 6 May 2016.

An appeal of this decision was registered on 26 May 2016 and additional information on her child's condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied has been forwarded to a Medical Assessor for their professional opinion. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor's opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted or alternatively, forward the case for consideration by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.