Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2023
127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if measures will be introduced to assist applicants that have domiciliary care applications progressed where there are delays outside the control of parents in having necessary assessments carried out for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54212/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living.
While an assessment or diagnosis of a child's specific disability may assist my Department's Deciding Officers and Medical Assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement and at the earliest date possible, eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability, in terms of the associated level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of the same age. The decision process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for receipt of DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.
Applications for DCA are decided by a Deciding Officer on a case by case basis in respect of the relevant child. The Deciding Officer has regard to the professional opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor in the decision process.
In addition to the personal details relating to the child's care needs as provided by the applicant on the completed application form (Dom Care 1), including the signed details from the applicant's GP/Specialist or other medical professional on this form, the applicant may provide any additional information or documentary evidence that is relevant to their application such as a medical professional report(s) if available, but there is no specific requirement to provide this information.
A parent / guardian should apply for DCA once they consider that their child may meet the qualifying criteria for the allowance. It is also open to an applicant to subsequently request a review(s) of any decision and this right is not time-limited. If requesting a review(s) of a Deciding Officer's decision, an applicant may forward any further new or additional information or documentary evidence, such as a diagnostic assessment report that was not previously available with the initial DCA application, for further consideration.
In cases where an application is successful, DCA is awarded with effect from the month following receipt of the application.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
