Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
842. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of medical assessors assigned to examining applications for domiciliary care allowance and the number of medical assessors assigned to examine DCA appeals, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if separate medical assessors are assigned to both the application and appeals process. [28391/23]
View answerThe Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) is the principal control and medical guidance mechanism for all illness, disability and carers' schemes administered by my Department. This includes the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) scheme.
As part of the decision-making process, applications for DCA are referred to an MRAS departmental Medical Assessor (MA) for their professional opinion. The deciding officer has regard to this MA opinion in the decision process.
For the purpose of assessing applications for DCA, including reviews and appeals, generally a range of 4-7 MAs are allocated on a full-time basis. Overall, there is a focus on new applications due to the substantially higher volume of MA referrals in this category. The above 4-7 MAs are also assigned to examine DCA appeals and reviews as required.
There is no distinction in MAs that are allocated to examine new DCA applications and those allocated to examine reviews and appeals. However, for review cases and particularly for appeal cases, an alternate medical assessor is assigned.
The above data in respect of each of the past ten years is not available.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
