Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
382. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of providing domiciliary care allowance for children that require prolonged hospitalisation in excess of 30 days from birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55664/21]
View answerChildren who are in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) and who are admitted to hospital, can retain entitlement to the payment for a period of 13 weeks in any 12 months. This period will be extended to 26 weeks from January 2022.
Children who remain in hospital after birth do not qualify for DCA as it is paid in respect of children with additional care needs who are being cared for in their own home.
Information on the number of children who remain in hospital for greater than 30 days after birth is not collated by the Department, so it is not possible to provide a costing as requested by the Deputy.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
