Vol. 500 No. 2
156 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the domiciliary care allowance is not payable for children under two years; the proposals, if any, he has to change this exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3753/99]
Domiciliary care allowance, DCA, is paid by health boards in respect of children between the ages of two and 16 years who are severely physically or mentally disabled and who require constant care and supervision substantially greater than that which would normally be required by a child of the same age.
At present the scheme does not cover children under the age of two years, since all children in that age group are regarded as requiring constant care and attention. Having received a number of inquires in relation to the qualifying age for this allowance, I arranged for this matter to be examined and would be sympathetic towards the principle of extending coverage of the scheme to that age group.
I am keeping matters under review in relation to the possible extension of this allowance to children under two years of age in the future.
