Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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511. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if eligibility for domiciliary care allowance will be extended to children residing in hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28241/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a payment made in respect of a child with a severe disability who requires additional care and attention. It is payable to the person providing for the child's care while they are resident with that person for at least 5 days each week.

DCA can be paid, for a period not exceeding 13 weeks in any 12 months, if the child is admitted to hospital on a full-time basis for medical or other treatment.

If a child is resident in an institution (including a hospital) for part of each week, DCA can be paid at 50% of the normal rate if the child resides with the qualified person between 2 and 4 days each week.

Any amendment to the qualifying conditions of the scheme would have cost implications and could only be considered in a wider Budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.