Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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322. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if increasing the rate of domiciliary care allowance has been considered with regard to the cost of disability and the cost of parenting older children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49339/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for a child with a severe disability. In August 2021, there were 45,000 recipients of the payment in respect of 50,000 children. The estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2021 is €197m.

My Department commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability. In line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government, the Government will use the research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to inform the direction of future policy.

The report has been received and my Department is considering it in detail. As part of this consideration, the Department has been briefing and seeking the views of relevant Government departments which have a role to play in the delivery of disability services and supports. As this matter is significantly wider than the income support system, a whole-of-Government perspective is being taken. Once this process is complete, I intend to submit the report to Government for consideration.

Measures have been introduced over the last number of budgets in acknowledgement of the higher costs faced by families with older children. For example, in 2019 a new, higher rate of increase for a qualified child was introduced in recognition of these additional costs. In addition, over the last two budgets, the rate of payment in respect of dependent children has been increased by €4 for children aged under 12, and €8 for those aged 12 and over.

Any changes to the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.