Vol. 577 No. 3
446 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the domiciliary care allowance has been refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois who is suffering from dyspraxia; if domiciliary care allowance is granted in respect of persons suffering from dyspraxia in other health board areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30944/03]
Domiciliary care allowance, DCA, is a monthly allowance administered by health boards and may be paid in respect of eligible children from birth to the age of 16 who have a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention which is substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. The condition must be likely to last for at least one year.
Eligibility is determined primarily by reference to the degree of additional care and attention required by the child rather than to the type of disability involved, subject to a means test. While no condition is debarred, conditions such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy are not normally considered unless there is a very high degree of additional care and attention required. It is a matter for the senior area medical officer or other designated medical officer in the relevant community care area to decide whether or not a child qualifies for DCA on medical grounds.
The assessment of and entitlement to the domiciliary care allowance in any individual case is a matter for the relevant health board. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer, Midland Health Board, to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.
