Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1051. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending the domiciliary care allowance to children aged 16 and 17 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44118/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child with a disability so severe that the child requires ongoing (continual or continuous) care and attention substantially in excess of that usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility is established primarily on the additional care required by the child rather than the child's disability.
A total of 4,333 children will cease being eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance during 2022, as they will have 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 €16.1 million per annum. The Carer's support grant and Carer's Allowance, where applicable, would also be payable and incur additional costs.
As a proportion of those customers in respect of whom DCA is currently being paid would be expected to transition to the Disability Allowance scheme on reaching age 16, it would be necessary to reform the conditionality of the DA scheme too if changes were to be introduced to the DCA scheme.
It would be imperative when deciding on any changes to schemes, including changes to the age limits, that any such changes are considered in an overall policy and budgetary context and that any unintended negative consequences are avoided
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
