Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
531. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing times for domiciliary care allowance claim reviews and domiciliary care allowance claim appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35721/25]
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.
The Department's systems do not collate data on DCA Reviews, therefore, the statistical information requested is not available.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) is an office of my Department which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare schemes and entitlements, including DCA. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions and management of the Appeals Office is the responsibility of the Chief Appeals Officer.
New Appeal claims are currently taking an average of 19.6 weeks to process from date of receipt of an Appeal request.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
