Clare Daly
Question:562. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of the domiciliary care allowance has been conducted; and if age thresholds will be revised. [15250/19]
View answerTuesday, 2 April 2019
Questions (562)
Written answers
A scheme review of domiciliary care allowance (DCA) published in 2013 recommended that the age limit for DCA be increased from 16 to 18 years with disability allowance commencing from age 18 instead of 16 , as is currently the case.
In addition, following a commitment made in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities 2015 -2024, the “Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities” (MWP) report was published in April 2017. This report was produced in order to better identify how people with disabilities could be supported to achieve their employment ambitions and made two recommendations, (numbers 9 and 10), that addressed issues around the design of the main income supports schemes.
These related to (a) reconfiguration of the starting age of Disability Allowance (DA) from the current age of 16 to 18 years and (b) implementing the principle of early engagement for young persons on DA and on all illness and disability payments.
To fulfill a commitment of the report, a public consultation was conducted with persons with disabilities, families and sectoral representatives in relation to these recommendations. Outcomes from the consultation process, including stakeholder submissions, four regional consultation events (held in Dublin, Cork, Sligo, and Limerick), and online questionnaires were compiled. These outcomes were further considered by a key stakeholder focus group (this group comprises of persons with experience of disability issues and has helped the Department with the design of the national consultation process).
A report has now been drafted and next steps are currently under consideration prior to a decision being made on its publication.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.