Danny Healy-Rae
Ceist:803. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15170/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 9 April 2024
Ceisteanna (803)
Freagraí scríofa
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability and requires care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. It ceases to be payable when a child reaches 16 years of age. The young person can then apply for Disability Allowance if they meet the eligibility requirements.
Disability Allowance is a long-term disability payment which is subject to a means test, medical assessment, and a habitual residency requirement. Parents’ income is not considered in the means test for Disability Allowance.
The Government committed as part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system. The proposals developed are set out in the Green Paper on Disability Reform that was published in September 2023.
One of the Green Paper’s proposals is to extend Domiciliary Care Allowance to age 18. This recognises that young people aged 16 and 17 are usually still in the care of their parents and guardians.
In line with this change, the Green Paper proposes to raise the qualifying age for Disability Allowance to 18. This would bring it in line with the other long-term disability payments and all working age payments in the Irish social welfare system.
The reconfiguration of Disability Allowance and Domiciliary Care Allowance has been highlighted in a wide range of reports going as far back as the Report of the Commission on Social Welfare in 1986, and more recently, in the Make Work Pay report in 2017.
The consultation period for the Green Paper on Disability Reform has been extended to 31 July 2024. I encourage anybody who has an interest in the age limit for Domiciliary Care Allowance payment or in any of the other disability income supports to make a submission to the consultation.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.