Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
742. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of a €10 increase in DCA; the additional cost of expanding it up to children aged under 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36758/23]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) ceases to be payable when a child turns 16. A child may transition to Disability Allowance (DA) from age 16, even if still attending full-time education, subject to satisfying all qualifying conditions for that scheme, including certain medical criteria and a means test.
Based on the number of children in respect of whom DCA is currently in payment, the added cost of a €10 rate increase would amount to approximately €7 million euro per annum.
The number of qualified children in respect of whom DCA is payable will vary each month and over time. However, as an indication of the potential cost of expanding the scheme to include children aged 16 and 17, there were nearly 5,000 such children who turned 16 in 2022. On the basis that these children continue to meet the eligibility conditions for the DCA payment, the cost of continuing to pay DCA following their 16th birthday until age 17 would amount to approximately €19 million per annum. If payment was further extend to age 18, the cost would amount to approximately €38 million euro per annum.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
