Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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122. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications in total for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) made in 2024; the number granted at first instance; the number granted at appeal; if he is satisfied with the criteria used for determining the grant of DCA at first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8528/25]

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. This level of care and attention must be required to enable the child deal with the activities of daily living.

Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability or diagnosis, but primarily on the impact of the disability/diagnosis in terms of the associated care and attention required by the relevant child compared to a child of the same age without their disability. The decision and assessment process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for receipt of DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's care needs.

The number of Domiciliary Care Allowance applications received by the Department in 2024 was 13,270. The number of applications awarded at the first instance in 2024 was 8,961. The number of applications granted at appeal for 2024 was 792 with 25 appeals also partially allowed.

Applications for DCA are decided by a Deciding Officer on an individual case by case basis, in respect of the relevant child, based on the personal details provided by the applicant in the application form (Dom Care 1), including the signed details from the applicant's GP/Specialist in this form, along with any other additional information and/or supporting documentary evidence if provided by the applicant. The deciding officer has regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA) in the decision process in all cases.

All new applications for DCA are referred for the opinion of an MA. The MA considers the severity of the child's condition, the expected duration, the child's associated care needs and provides their professional opinion in relation to the child's eligibility for DCA. This is to aide the Deciding Officer in making a fair and accurate decision on the eligibility of the child.

In addition to the above medical criteria, the following conditions must be satisfied to qualify for the allowance:

• the child must be under the age of 16
• the child must be resident in the Irish State
• the child must live at home with the person claiming the allowance for five or more days a week
• the person claiming the allowance for the child must provide for the care of the child and habitually live in the State