Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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584. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if extra consideration is being given to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children with additional needs who are applying for the domiciliary care allowance; if children will be given extra consideration during assessment for domiciliary care allowance in circumstances in which they may previously have managed and regressed massively as a result of the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14023/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of children with a severe disability who require care and attention substantially in excess of that required by children of a similar age without their disability, providing this additional care is likely to last for at least 12 months.

The assessment process used in the consideration of whether a child meets the criteria for receipt of DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.

In circumstances where a child previously did not meet the qualifying criteria but their circumstances have now changed a new application should be submitted. 

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy. 

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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585. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale for the refusal of a domiciliary care allowance application by a child (details supplied); if she will review the application considering the impact of Covid-19 on the child and the need for additional care to help limit the impact; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14024/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance  ( DCA) is payable in respect of children with a severe disability who require care and attention substantially in excess of that required by children of a similar age without their disability, providing this additional care is likely to last for at least 12 months.

The assessment process used in the consideration of whether a child meets the criteria for receipt of DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs. 

An application for DCA was received from the person concerned on the 24th August 2021.  The application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance.  A letter issued on the 16th November 2021 setting out the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.

A request for a review of the decision was received on the 18th November 2021 and an appeal was subsequently registered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on the 23rd November 2021.  As part of the appeals process, the application was re-examined by a deciding officer and the person concerned was notified on the 15th February 2022 that the review was unsuccessful.  An appeal submission was prepared and forwarded to the Social  Welfare Appeals Office on the 5th March 2022. 

The SWAO will contact the person directly about the outcome of the appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.