Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2012
236 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the statistics provided in Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 12 January 2012, can be broken down into types of disability that is physical, sensory, learning, emotional, behavioural and autistic spectrum disorders. [6225/12]
View answerThe Department does not hold details of the disability type in a format that would allow the provision of the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) scheme.
However, a specific data extraction exercise was conducted last year in relation to the outcome of applications for DCA for children with autism-related conditions. This exercise covered the 930 DCA applications processed during the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2011 with a stated medical condition within the autism spectrum. Of these, 55% (507 claims) were deemed to satisfy the qualifying criteria, with 45%, (413 claims) deemed ineligible.
Approximately 46% of all claimants were awarded the allowance on initial application in the same period.
