asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will receive money for her handicapped child for the period July 1981 to April 1982, when the monthly cheques re-started.
Written Answers. - County Kilkenny Handicapped Child Allowance.
754.
Domiciliary care allowance is payable by health boards to the mother or guardian of certain handicapped children up to the age of 16 years.
The person in question was in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance until her handicapped son reached the age of 16 years in July 1981. The person's son was then informed of his right to apply for a disabled persons maintenance allowance.
The South Eastern Health Board did not receive a completed application form on his behalf until 28 September 1981. A disabled persons maintenance allowance was granted at the maximum rate with effect from 1 April 1982.
There was a delay in reaching a decision in this case because the applicant attends a centre providing both education and training. Disabled persons maintenance allowance is not payable to persons attending full-time education. When it was established that the applicant was receiving training rather than education an allowance was deemed payable.
The South Eastern Health Board are giving sympathetic consideration to making the allowance payable from an earlier date and I have asked that a decision be expedited.