Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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401. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that were refused for domiciliary care allowance in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35803/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for a child, aged under 16 with a severe disability who requires ongoing (continual or continuous) care and attention substantially in excess of the level of care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.  Eligibility is determined on the additional care required by the child rather than the disability.

The following is the number of Domiciliary Care Allowance applications that were disallowed in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 and the number of applications that were appealed for each of those years:

The following is the number of Domiciliary Care Allowance applications that were successful on appeal in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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402. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that were made for domiciliary care allowance in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35804/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The number of applications for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) that were received in 2021 and to date in 2022 are as follows:

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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403. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance with dyspraxia as a primary diagnosis that were refused in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of those applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35805/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is determined primarily by reference to the degree of additional care and attention required by a child rather than the child's disability.  DCA applications are decided by a deciding officer on an individual case by case basis, while also considering the opinion of a Departmental medical assessor.

While statistics on overall awards and refusals are available , information on awards or refusals in relation to particular medical conditions is not routinely collated.  It should also be noted that children can have multiple diagnoses.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy. 

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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404. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance with ASD as a primary diagnosis that were refused in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of those applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35806/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is determined primarily by reference to the degree of additional care and attention required by a child rather than the child's disability. DCA applications are decided by a deciding officer on an individual case by case basis, while also considering the opinion of a Departmental medical assessor.

While statistics on overall awards and refusals are available, information on awards or refusals in relation to particular medical conditions is not routinely collated. It should also be noted that children can have multiple diagnoses.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy. 

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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405. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance with sensory processing disorder as a primary diagnosis that were refused in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of those applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35807/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance is determined primarily by reference to the degree of additional care and attention required by a child rather than the child's disability. DCA applications are decided by a deciding officer on an individual case by case basis, while also considering the opinion of a Departmental medical assessor.

While statistics on overall awards or refusals are available, information on awards or refusals in relation to particular medical conditions is not routinely collated. It should also be noted that children can have multiple diagnoses.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy. 

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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406. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all applications for domiciliary care allowance are assessed by a medical assessor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35808/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary care allowance is payable in respect of children who have a severe disability resulting in the need for substantial extra care and attention compared to other children of the same age without that disability.  Eligibility is determined on the additional care required by the child and not on the particular disability.

Before a decision is made on a domiciliary care allowance application, the deciding officer forwards the application in its entirety, including all the medical evidence supplied, to one of the Departments medical assessors for their professional opinion on the care needs resulting from the disability.  The deciding officer, having received the opinion of the medical assessor, then examines the application in full before making a decision. 

I hope this clarifies the position for the  Deputy. 

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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407. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans, if any, that she has to review the onerous application process for parents applying for the domiciliary care allowance, particularly in terms of family impact statements and care diaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35809/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA ) is payable to a parent/guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 , who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.  The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility is determined primarily by reference to the degree of ongoing additional care and attention required by the child rather than the child's disability.

In general, social welfare schemes with complex qualifying conditions, such as DCA, tend to require extensive, detailed information and evidence to be provided in the application process, in order to make an appropriate decision on entitlement. 

Applicants for DCA are required to complete an application form (Dom Care 1) , which details the child's disability and resultant medical and additional care needs.  In addition to the completed form, the applicant may provide any additional information or documentary evidence that is relevant, such as medical professional report(s) or, for example, a copy of the needs assessment completed by the HSE.  All details supplied by the applicant on the completed application form, including the signed details from the applicant's GP on this form, along with any other additional information and supporting evidence provided, forms the basis for the DCA application assessment and decision process.

The Department regularly reviews scheme application forms to ensure that the application forms are as user friendly as possible, while also taking account of the nature of the scheme and the qualifying criteria for the scheme.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.