Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2004
125 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if mobility or other allowance can be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to facilitate their child who is wheelchair bound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8167/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMobility allowance is payable by health boards, subject to a means test, to a person with a severe disability between the ages of 16 and 66. Such eligible persons can continue to receive payment after they reach their 66th birthday. The allowance provides financial support to eligible people who are unable to walk or use public transport and is intended to enable them to benefit from a change in surroundings.
However, I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to domiciliary care allowance. DCA is a monthly payment 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 one year. Where medical confirmation is supplied which pre-dates the actual date of application and the health board's senior area medical officer is satisfied that the child required continual or continuous care and attention, substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age, then payment may be made from the date the senior area medical officer is satisfied that such additional care and attention was required. The current rate of payment is €204 per month.
