Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans to reform the transition process from domiciliary care allowance to disability allowance, with a view to reducing the financial hardship experienced by families who no longer qualify for support due to the means test applied to disability allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52469/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider introducing a non-means-tested payment or transitional support for young persons with disabilities who are no longer eligible for domiciliary care allowance and do not qualify for disability allowance due to household means; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52471/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 109 together.

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. Eligibility is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child.

Significant changes have been made to the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment over the last number of Budgets. The period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital was extended from three months to six months. The payment can also now be made for babies who remain in hospital after birth for 18 months. During both these extended periods of eligibility and where other conditions are met, a carer may also receive Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit and the Carer's Support Grant.

Disability Allowance is a means-tested income support payment for people aged 16 or over whose illness or disability means that they are substantially restricted from doing work that would be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications.

Eligibility for Domiciliary Care Allowance ceases when a child reaches 16 years of age. This aligns with the age of eligibility for Disability Allowance. If the young person continues to have a disability that significantly impacts their daily life, they may apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own name. In such cases, the parent's means are not assessed in the means test.

If their parent or guardian continues to provide full-time care, they may retain, or apply for Carer's Allowance of Carer's Benefit, even where Disability Allowance is not payable.

In addition, the annual Carer’s Support Grant is available to family carers providing full-time care and assistance, regardless of means. It is paid automatically to recipients of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance. Other carers not in receipt of one of these payments may also qualify for a standalone grant. The grant is paid in respect of each person being cared for. This year the grant increased by €150 to €2,000, the highest rate since its introduction.

Any future reform of disability or carers payments, including Domiciliary Care Allowance, will be considered in the context of our commitments in the Programme for Government and the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.