Bernard J. Durkan
Question:112 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the full entitlement of parents of children who qualify for the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3086/02]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The domiciliary care allowance was introduced by way of circular 24/73 and is payable under Section 61 of the Health Act, 1970. This is a monthly allowance paid by health boards from date of application up to the age of 16 years. It provides financial support to the carers of eligible children 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. The allowance is not paid in respect of children maintained on a full time basis in special-residential institutions. However, the allowance may be paid on a pro-rata basis for the number of nights spent at home, for example, weekends or holidays, by eligible children who attend special/residential institutions.
To be eligible to receive this allowance applicants must satisfy the following conditions; be under 16 years of age; the disability must be present at the time of the application and be likely to last for at least a year; the disability must be so severe that they require from another person constant care or supervision, that is, continual or continuous care or supervision substantially greater than that which would normally be required by a child of the same age; and the constant care or supervision must be provided by the parents themselves or by arrangement by them with another person or persons.
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. Where there is more than one eligible child in a family, a full DCA payment should be made in respect of each eligible child. In some cases, depending on medical condition, eligibility is reviewed at regular intervals, for example, if the child's condition improves, he or she may no longer meet the criteria for eligibility. The maximum rate of DCA is €179.80 per month, effective from 1 January 2002.
Since August 1999, recipients of a domiciliary care allowance may also be eligible for carer's allowance which comes under the remit of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Since 2000, recipients of DCA are also entitled to receive respite care grant. RCG is a once yearly payment normally paid during June. The current rate of the RCG is €635. The RCG should be doubled to €1270 where there are two or more DCA recipients in a family. The health boards are responsible for paying the RCG to people in receipt of DCA only. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is responsible for paying the RCG to recipients of carer's allowance and DCA and to those in receipt of carer's allowance only.