I understand the Deputy's concern and will explain the nature of this scheme. Domiciliary care allowance, DCA, is paid by health boards in respect of children between the ages of two and 16 years who are so severely physically or mentally disabled that they require care and attention, which is considerably in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age.
The scheme was introduced by way of Circular No. 2/473 in 1973 and operates under section 61 of the 1970 Health Act which empowers a health board to make arrangements to assist in the maintenance at home of a sick or infirm person or a dependant of such a person or a person, who, but for the provision of a service for him or her under the section, would require to be maintained otherwise than at home.
The scheme applies to children aged between two and 16 years and only the means of the child are taken into account, for example, a child who receives a payment of compensation resulting in an income in excess of the allowance does not quality. The current rate of the allowance is £103.60 per month. The medical assessment is carried out by health board medical personnel. In some cases, depending on medical condition, eligibility is reviewed at regular intervals, for example, if the child's condition improves, he-she may no longer meet the criteria for eligibility. The allowance is not paid in respect of children maintained in institutions. However, where a child is at home for a continuous period of more than two months, for example, summer holidays, the allowance may be granted for that period.
The scheme does not cover children under the age of two years given that they normally require constant care and attention in any event. However, there are other supports available to parents who experience difficulties in caring for a child of under two years. For example, they may apply to their local community welfare officer for help under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Furthermore, if the child's condition requires frequent and expensive medical treatment a child may be awarded a medical card in his-her own right. Parents may also seek advice and support from the boards in obtaining necessary aids and appliances.
As the Deputy is aware the Report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, "A Strategy for Quality", was published in November 1996. The commission's report recommends the development of a wide range of economic and social services for people with disabilities, including health, personal support services and employment. On publication of the report, the then Government decided to establish a monitoring committee comprising representatives of Government Departments, social partners, organisations representing people with disabilities, their families, carers and service providers to monitor the implementation of the commission's recommendations. This is subject to the submission to Government, in the first instance, of a programme of measures to be implemented, which is being drawn up by an interdepartmental task force on which my Department is represented. This task force is due to submit its detailed plan in the near future.
The operation of schemes such as the domiciliary care allowance will be reviewed in this context. I will have the points raised by the Deputy conveyed to the task force for full consideration.
