Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

306. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the degree to which her Department has in place a method for determination of eligibility for domiciliary care allowance, given the number of children who are now deemed eligible on the basis of special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51061/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 in excess of that 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 and essentially by reference to the degree of ongoing additional care and attention required by the child rather than the child's disability.

While an assessment or diagnosis of a specific disability or condition may assist the Department's deciding officers and medical assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement, eligibility for DCA is not based on the type of disability or diagnosis, but on the child's resulting medical and additional care needs. The decision and assessment process that applies in the consideration of whether a child satisfies the criteria for receipt of DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs. A child who is categorised as having special needs or otherwise might qualify for DCA depending on the extent of their additional care needs.

Applications for DCA are decided by a deciding officer on a case-by-case basis, while also considering the opinion of a Departmental medical assessor. A parent / guardian should apply for DCA once they consider that their child may meet the qualifying conditions for receipt of the allowance. In addition to the personal details provided on the completed application form (Dom Care 1), including the signed details from the applicant's GP on this form, the applicant may provide any additional information or evidence that is relevant to their application, such as medical professional report(s) if available.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

307. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of children who are deemed to have a disability putting them in the category of special needs; the number of such children who have been awarded domiciliary care allowance; the number refused in each of the past twelve months to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51062/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 or refusals are available, information on awards or refusals in relation to particular medical disabilities, conditions or special needs category is not collated. It should also be noted that some children can have multiple diagnoses.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.