Vol. 523 No. 1
593 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children when domiciliary care allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in view of the fact the person was not aware until early June that she was entitled to an allowance of £300; if, in view of the circumstances involved, this will also be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20061/00]
The assessment of entitlement to a domiciliary care allowance – DCA – in any individual case is a matter for the relevant health board. The respite care grant is an annual grant of £300 which is intended as a contribution towards respite care. It is paid to those in receipt of DCA or carer's allowance on the first Thursday of June. I presume that the Deputy's question refers to the respite care grant and not DCA.
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is responsible for the payment of the respite care grant in cases where the DCA recipient also receives carer's allowance. The health boards are responsible for the payment of the respite care grant in cases where the person is in receipt of DCA only.
I understand that this DCA recipient is not in receipt of carer's allowance. Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer, Mid-Western Health Board, with a request that he examine the query and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
