Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
58. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the gap between eligibility for domiciliary care allowance and eligibility for disability allowance, when a person reaches 16 years of age. [29701/15]
View answer59. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the assistance that is provided to persons who are eligible for domiciliary care allowance but not for the disability allowance, on reaching 16 years of age. [29702/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together.
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is paid in respect of children who have a severe disability requiring constant care and attention substantially in excess of that needed by a child of the same age without the disability. The need for the additional care and attention must be likely to last for at least 12 months. DCA, which is not means-tested, is payable in respect of qualified children to age 16 years, after which they may apply for disability allowance (DA) in their own right.
However, the qualifying conditions for DA are very different to DCA. To qualify for a DA payment a person must: be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment; be aged between 16 and 65; satisfy a means test; and be habitually resident in the State. Therefore a child is not automatically entitled to DA because a DCA was in payment.
While I have no plans to adjust the age limit for receipt of DCA or DA at this time, the issue of how best to provide income supports, where needed, to children with a disability between 16 and 18 years of age, will be considered in the context of any general reforms to disability support payments.
