Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
66. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the domiciliary care allowance payment of €340 per month is sufficient to care for a child with a severe disability that requires full time care and attention. [7889/24]
View answerThe main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending in 2024 is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion on these payments.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a non means tested payable to a parent or guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age, and requires this care for at least 12 consecutive months.
At the end of January there were 54,171 families in receipt of the payment in relation to 60,784 children. Expenditure in 2024 is estimated at almost €274 million. Between 2021 and the end of 2023, expenditure on this scheme has increased by 28%.
From January, the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance increased from €330 to €340 per month. This reflects a cumulative payment increases of €30.50 per month on the payment under this Government.
The Deputy should also be aware that Domiciliary Care Allowance is not paid in isolation, parents or guardians in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance are eligible for an annual non means tested Carer's Support Grant of €1,850.
In November 2023 a further 400 euro lump sum was paid to people receiving the Carer's Support Grant.
Subject to satisfying a means test or having sufficient PRSI contributions, those receiving Domiciliary Care Allowance may also be eligible for Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit.
As part of Budget 2022, the Government doubled the period of time for which Domiciliary Care Allowance is paid for children who are hospitalised. This support now continues to be paid for 26 weeks, in a twelve month period, to the parents or guardians of children under 16. Parents of babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth can also receive Domiciliary Care Allowance for 26 weeks in a twelve month period.
I will continue to keep the supports for Domiciliary Care Allowance recipients under review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
