Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2014

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Questions (162)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

162. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who applied for the allowance in March; if she is aware that the applicant on supplying requested documents was told that the case was then put to the back of the queue and they could face another wait of up to 12 weeks to have the matter determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36910/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 30th April 2014. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who did not consider that the child met the medical criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 29th July 2014 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.

A review of this decision was requested on 15th August 2014 and additional information on this child’s condition/care needs has been supplied. The application together with the new information supplied will now be examined by another medical assessor. Once their opinion is received the application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made, if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of this review as soon as it is completed.