Michael Creed
Question:254 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the qualifying criteria for domiciliary care allowance; and the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused this allowance. [15116/01]
Written Answers. - Health Board Allowances.
The domiciliary care allowance, or DCA, is paid by health boards in respect of eligible children up to the age of 16 years whose disability is so severe that they require care and attention which is considerably in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. To be eligible to receive this allowance applicants must satisfy the following conditions: be less than 16 years of age; the disability-handicap must be present at the time of the application and be likely to continue for at least a year; the disability-handicap must be so severe that they require from another person constant care or supervision, i.e. continual or continuous care or supervision substantially greater than that which would normally be required by a child of the same age and sex; and the constant care or supervision must be provided by the parents themselves or by another person by arrangement with the parents.
Only the means of the child should be taken into account in determining eligibility for an allowance – the means of the parents should not be considered. 'Means' in this context include payments of compensation, following a court action or otherwise, in respect of injuries or disabilities sustained.
The allowance is not paid in respect of children maintained in institutions on a full time basis. From April 1 2001 DCA is paid on apro rata basis for periods spent at home, e.g. weekends or holidays by eligible children who attend special residential schools and institutions.
Where there is more than one eligible child in a family, a full DCA payment should be made in respect of each child. In some cases, depending on medical condition, eligibility is reviewed at regular intervals, e.g. if the child's condition improves, he or she may no longer meet the criteria for eligibility.
With regard to the particular case outlined by the Deputy, the assessment of entitlement to and payment of the DCA in any individual case is a matter for the relevant health board. Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board with a request that he examine the query and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.