Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
156. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual cost of extending the domiciliary carer's allowance to 16 and 17 year olds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10329/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability in their own home. Domiciliary Care allowance (DCA) can be paid in respect of qualified children up to age 16 years.
A total of 3,402 children ceased being eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance during 2021, as they reached 16 years of age. If those children continued to be qualified after their 16th birthday, the additional cost in DCA payments would be of the order of €12.6 million per annum.
More widely, the Deputy will be aware that the “Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities” (MWP) report was published in April 2017. The report undertook to better identify how people with disabilities could be supported to achieve their employment ambitions. A number of MWP report recommendations focused on the need to support young adults through education, training and social inclusion according to their capacity, and to change the qualifying age for disability allowance from 16 to 18 years of age while leaving Domiciliary Care allowance in payment where applicable to 18 years of age.
An extensive national consultation process was organised to engage people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and sectoral representatives to seek their views on the specific recommendations in the report.
Consideration of the most appropriate measures to be taken is continuing. It is imperative when deciding on any changes to the age limits for the relevant schemes that such changes have a positive effect on those in receipt of the payments and that we avoid any unintended negative consequences.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
