Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 7

Written Answers. - Domiciliary Care Allowance.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

188 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in receipt of a carer's allowance in respect of children and young adults who suffer from a physical or mental disability. [16840/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I assume the Deputy is referring to the domiciliary care allowance scheme.

The purpose of the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is to provide financial support in respect of a child who is so severely physically disabled or mentally handicapped that the care and attention required for the child at home is considerably in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age.

The latest available annual statistical returns provided by the health boards, who administer the scheme, indicate that on 31 December 1996 there were a total of 7,712 people in receipt of DCA.