Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
600. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending the availability of the domiciliary care allowance to children aged between 16 and 18 years of age or those who remain in education after 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14230/22]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability in their own home.
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) ceases to be payable when a child reaches age 16 years. Disability Allowance (DA) can then be paid from age 16 if the qualifying conditions for that scheme are met, even if the child is in fulltime education.
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. The report undertook to better identify how people with disabilities could be supported to achieve their employment ambitions. A number of MWP report recommendations focused on the need to support young adults through education, training and social inclusion according to their capacity, and to change the qualifying age for disability allowance from 16 to 18 years of age while leaving Domiciliary Care allowance in payment where applicable to 18 years of age.
An extensive national consultation process was organised to engage people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and sectoral representatives to seek their views on the specific recommendations in the report.
Consideration of the most appropriate measures to be taken is continuing. It is imperative when deciding on any changes to the age limits for the relevant schemes that such changes have a positive effect on those in receipt of the payments and that any unintended negative consequences. are avoided
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
