Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015
478. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of extending a medical card to all children to whom a domiciliary care allowance is being paid but who do not currently have a medical card. [26330/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) payment is made by the Minister for Social Protection to carers in respect of a child at home under 16 years of age with a severe disability, where it has been determined that the child requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age. Eligibility for the DCA is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting lack of function of body or mind necessitating the degree of extra care and attention required. As such it is not possible to say if a particular child or any particular medical condition or disability will qualify for a payment under the scheme. Out of an approximate population of 1 million people under the age of 16 years, almost 450,000 held a medical card or a GP visit card and approximately 29,000 children qualified for the DCA payment in 2014. It is estimated that about two-thirds of children qualifying for a DCA payment also hold a medical card.
In addition, from 1 July 2015, all children under the age of 6 years are entitled to access a GP service free of charge, as part of the first phase of introducing a universal GP service in Ireland. It has been estimated that the average expenditure per medical card was €973 in 2013, however, it is not possible to provide the actual costs requested by the Deputy as it would depend on the variable nature of the individuals’ requirements as well as the number of individuals and the quantum and cost of health services that would be used.
