Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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75. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the changes to the domiciliary care allowance and carer’s allowance payments in respect of children in hospital will take effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5014/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This measure will allow for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) and associated Carers payments to be paid for up to six months in respect of a child who is admitted to hospital full-time for an extended period. Currently these supports are paid for up to a maximum of 13 weeks (three months).

This measure will address the issue with the relatively small number of children who are in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance before they are admitted to hospital for an extended period.

The necessary steps required to provide for these measures are currently being finalised and will enable the change outlined to become effective in the coming weeks.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.