Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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136. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will outline the criteria for assessment for the domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15199/23]

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 requiring continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the child must be likely to require this substantial level of care for at least 12 consecutive months.

Eligibility for DCA 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 order to qualify for DCA, it must be established that the level of care and attention required by the relevant child is substantially in excess of that normally required by children of the same age and likely to be required for at least 12 months as provided for in the governing legislation.

The 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. Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability, but rather on the impact of the disability, in terms of the child's resulting medical and additional care needs.

Applications for DCA are decided by a deciding officer on an individual case by case basis, in respect of the relevant child. The personal details supplied on the completed application form (Dom Care 1), including the signed details from the applicant's GP on this form, along with any additional information or documentary evidence that is provided by the applicant, such as medical professional report(s), or otherwise, forms the basis for the DCA assessment and decision process.

In addition, the deciding officer also considers the opinion of the Department's medical assessor in the decision process.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.