Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 March 2014

Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Ceisteanna (274)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

274. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the annual cost for domiciliary care allowance oral hearings to include as separate line items, hotel room hire, mileage for Department personnel who attend the hearings, subsistence for Department personnel who attend the hearings, allowances paid to Department personnel in addition to their basic pay and any other costs associated with the hearings between 2011 and 2013. [12135/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that cost details for room hire and travel and subsistence are not maintained on a scheme by scheme basis. It is therefore not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in relation to Domiciliary Care Allowance oral hearings. General Social Welfare Appeals Office expenditure under the headings of room hire and travel and subsistence for the years in question is, however, provided in the following table:

Social Welfare Appeals Office - Annual Costs Relating to Room Hire and Travel and Subsistence

-	Year	Year	Year
-	2011 €	2012 €	2013 €
Room Hire	94,750	117,390	95,256
Travel & Subsistence	236,543	261,016	233,670

The information sought in relation to the travel and subsistence costs incurred by Department staff attending Domiciliary Care Allowance appeal oral hearings is provided in the following table:

Annual Costs Relating to Travel and Subsistence for DCA Staff

-	Year	Year	Year
-	2011	2012	2013
Mileage	€549.35	€265.82	€107.51
Travel & Subsistence	€141.30	€107.69	€13.71