Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:774. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12960/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 March 2024
Ceisteanna (774)
Freagraí scríofa
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the level of care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention 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, in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding/diet, communication, speech/language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues, including any other additional needs.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability/diagnosis, but primarily on the impact of the disability, in terms of the associated level of care and attention required by the relevant child compared to a child of the same age who does not have such a disability/diagnosis.
All applications for DCA are referred for the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA).
An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the person concerned on 26 July 2023. As per decision dated 12 September 2023, a deciding officer decided to disallow this application. Based on the information and supporting documents provided by the person, the child was not considered to satisfy the criteria for DCA. In making that decision, the deciding officer had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental MA and a copy of that MA opinion was issued to the applicant for information, along with the decision notification of 12 September 2023.
The person concerned appealed the above decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). As part of the appeals process, a deciding officer reviewed their application including all information / evidence available at the time of the above decision and the further additional new evidence provided by the applicant in support of their appeal and decided not to revise the decision of 12 September 2023.
The SWAO will notify the person concerned directly of the appeal outcome in due course.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.