Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the domiciliary care section will accept private diagnosis and medical reports from applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38864/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Domiciliary care allowance is payable in respect of children who have a severe disability resulting in the need for substantial extra care and attention compared to other children of the same age without that disability. Eligibility is determined on the additional care required by the child and not on the particular disability.

Medical evidence and detail on the diagnosis is accepted from any relevant qualified medical professional attending the child, irrespective of whether the diagnosis is obtained privately or not.

Before a decision is made on a domiciliary care allowance application, the deciding officer forwards the application in its entirety, including all the medical evidence supplied, to one of the Departments medical assessors for their professional opinion on the care needs resulting from the disability. The deciding officer having received the opinion of the medical assessor then examines the application in full before making a decision.

All medical evidence provided by qualified professionals in regard to the diagnosis of the child's medical condition, the prognosis of the condition and the impact on the child's care needs is carefully considered by both the medical assessor and deciding officer before reaching a decision on eligibility.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.