Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he plans any changes to the qualifying criteria for the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21540/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age.Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases to be payable when a child reaches 16 years of age. The young person can then apply for Disability Allowance if they meet the eligibility requirements.Any future reform of disability payments, will be considered as part of a broader review of disability matters on a whole-of-government basis and will take account of the feedback received during the recent Green Paper process.In terms of Domiciliary Care Allowance more broadly, the Programme for Government commits to protecting the Free Travel Pass and examining extending it to children in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance, as well as a commitment to progressively increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.