asked the Minister for Health why he considers that it would be inappropriate for him to direct health boards to modify their policy not to pay domiciliary care and other income maintenance allowances from a date prior to the application for such allowances particularly where, due to inadequate information services, eligible beneficiaries are unaware of their entitlement; and whether health boards are free to decide policy in this area without regard to his instructions.
Written Answers. - Domiciliary Care Payments.
311.
There are difficulties of an accounting and budgeting nature in the way of providing for payment of allowances with effect from a date prior to application. In the absence of instructions from me, health boards are free to decide policy in this matter but, because of the difficulties I have mentioned, I do not consider it appropriate for me to direct them to depart from their usual practice.
Information about entitlement to services and allowances is widely available, in particular through offices and field staff of the community care services programmes of health boards, through social services organisations and through the community information centres which are operated under the auspices of the National Social Services.
312.
asked the Minister for Health the authority or body in each health board which decided that, as a matter of policy, the board should not pay a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a handicapped child from a date prior to the application for the allowance; and the date and place of such decision in respect of each health board.
Formal instructions have not been issued in respect of the commencement date for payment of domiciliary care allowances. The policy of health boards to pay with effect from the date of application is in conformity with long-standing practice relating to income maintenance schemes generally for which the Departments of Health and Social Welfare are responsible.