Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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255. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of refusal for first-time domiciliary care applicants in 2018 and to date in 2019; the level of refusals following applications for reviews in 2018 and to date in 2019; if appealed, the number of appeals upheld for the period; if there have been recent changes in approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41456/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The number of domiciliary care allowance applications received in recent years has been increasing exponentially, and has doubled from 2012 to 2018, from 4,079 to 8,609 applications.

Details of the applications received in 2018 and 2019 to date are listed in the following table, together with the outcomes, both at initial decision, on review and on appeal. Some applications would have both review request and appeal submitted concurrently.

Applications received and outcomes 2018-2019 Sept.

Appeals processed 2018-2019 Sept.

There has been no recent changes in the approach to processing applications and review requests in DCA section. Each case continues to be decided and reviewed based on the individual circumstances and information/medical evidence available to the deciding officer at the relevant time.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.