James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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495. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 760 of 5 February 2025, the average number of days between when a domiciliary care allowance application was received and the time period when the applicant was notified of each specified sub-category of appeal allowed (details supplied) in each of the years between 2020 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5880/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment for 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 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.

The Department does not collate the requested information for the time period between when a DCA application was received and when the applicant was notified of the appeal allowed decision.

The following table shows the average processing times for new DCA applications and appeal cases for the period 2020 to 2024.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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496. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 760 of 5 February 2025, if the reasons that a domiciliary care allowance application meets the application disallowed category are recorded; if so, the top five reasons a disallowed application meets this category in each of the years specified between 2020 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5913/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.

The following table sets out the information requested. While the table includes the top five reasons new DCA applications were disallowed in each of the years between 2020 and 2024, it is important to note that between 94% to 97% of the disallowed applications each year are due to the child not satisfying the medical criteria.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.