Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 April 2014
20. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the procedure employed in evaluating medical information provided to her Department for children with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17688/14]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is an allowance paid in respect of children under 16 years, who have a disability so severe that it requires the child needing care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. Eligibility for DCA is not decided on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting disability that necessitates the degree of extra care and attention required. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking account of all the evidence, including medical evidence submitted by the parent/guardian. The report of the review of the DCA made a number of administrative recommendations relating to changes to the application, decision and appeal processes. These changes have been developed and implemented from the 7th April 2014.
The application form has been redesigned to allow the detail of the child’s care needs to be more comprehensively documented by the parent/guardian. Also, an additional medical information form can be completed for children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders, such as Autism. This additional medical information, which will be supplied by the specialist attending the child, will ensure that the appropriate information is available to assist in the decision making process. It is hoped that having as much information as possible on the child’s care needs available at the initial assessment stage will allow the correct decision to be made at the earliest opportunity possible and reduce the need for further examination and recourse to the appeals process.
The revised application/decision process will also include improved feedback in relation to the decision reasons at both application and appeal stages. Details on the new process, along with revised guidelines covering the administrative changes are available on www.welfare.ie and have been notified to all CIB Offices and to parent/guardian representative groups.
