Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a complete reappraisal of an application for domiciliary care allowance can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50406/22]

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

An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the person concerned on 04 July 2022. A deciding officer disallowed the claim on 09 August 2022, as their child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for DCA.

The person concerned requested an appeal of the Department's decision.

As part of the appeals process their DCA application, including new additional information that was provided by the person concerned in support of their appeal, was reviewed by a deciding officer.

Following a review on 28 September 2022, the deciding office having re examined their complete application, including all the supporting information and documentary evidence that was provided by the person concerned, while also considering the opinion of a departmental medical assessor decided that a revision of the original decision of 9 August 2022 is not warranted.

The applicant's DCA appeal was subsequently referred to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 29 September 2022, for further consideration by an Appeals Officer. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of their appeal in due course.

In the meantime any further new or additional information or documentary evidence, if available, should be sent to the SWAO for consideration in the appeal process.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.