Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 October 2013
102. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if appendix 8 of the medical eligibility guidelines for domiciliary care allowance, on medical conditions, is still in force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43892/13]
View answerThe review of the Domiciliary Care Allowance scheme (DCA), which was published in April 2013, makes a number of recommendations in relation to the medical eligibility guidelines pertaining to the scheme. Amongst these recommendations is the deletion of the advisory list of conditions more likely or less likely to be considered to qualify a child for DCA, (Appendix 8). In practice, the section of the guidelines referred to, is no longer referred to by medical assessors as part of the assessment process and has not been for some time.
The necessary changes to implement the medical eligibility guidelines and recommendations have been drafted and will be implemented after the implementation group, which has been established to action the recommendations in the report, has finalised arrangements. This work is progressing well and it is hoped to have the recommendations implemented in the near future.
