Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2025
157. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on when a final decision will be made on an application for domiciliary care allowance and the associated travel pass for the son of the person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3741/25]
View answerDomiciliary 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 the child's 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 to 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 type of disability or diagnosis but primarily on the impact of the child's disability, in terms of the associated overall level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability. The decision process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.
An application for DCA in respect of the child concerned was received by my Department on 24 July 2024. A Deciding Officer disallowed the claim as per decision dated 09 September 2024. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination considered the supporting medical evidence that was provided by the applicant in their application. The Deciding Officer also had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor in making their decision and a copy of this opinion was issued to the applicant for information along with the decision notification.
The applicant requested a review of the above decision. Following a review of their application in respect of the child concerned, including all information and evidence available at the time of the original decision and all further information and documentary evidence that was provided in support of their review request, a Deciding Officer decided not to revise the above decision as per review decision dated 27 November 2024. No further requests for a review and/or appeal of the decision have been received.
Please note there is no associated travel pass available with the Domiciliary Care Allowance payment.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
