Vol. 509 No. 6
354 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children to make a statement on the restriction that prevents parents of children under two years of age applying for a domiciliary care allowance; if he has completed the review of the situation; and if he will publish his findings. [21432/99]
I have indicated in previous replies to questions and to motions on Adjournment debates about domiciliary care allowance, that following receipt of a number of inquiries about the qualifying age for this allowance, I arranged for the matter to be examined. I have provided full information on the findings of this examination in such replies. The outcome of the examination concluded that best international practice recognises the additional care required for children with a disability under two years of age. Very often it is not simply a matter of care but the kind and intensity of the care required. While the international experience varies in the type of and eligibility for schemes, the underlying trend is to offer some support to children under two years of age.
I would like to reassure the Deputy that I support these conclusions. It is in this context that officials from my department are discussing the possibility of funding being sourced for the extension of DCA in the Estimates for year 2000.
