Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
94. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider extending the domiciliary care allowance payment beyond the current age limit of 16 years of age, so that it continues until the child reaches 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62167/25]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly non-means tested payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16 who has a severe disability. The child must require care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. Eligibility is not based on the disability or diagnosis, but rather on the impact of the disability in terms of the level of care and attention required by the child.
As part of Budget 2026, the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20 to €380 per month from January.
As of the end of October 2025, there were 61,753 families in receipt of Domiciliary Care Allowance in respect of 70,131 children. Claims have doubled since 2015.
Domiciliary Care Allowance stops being paid when a child reaches 16 years of age. This aligns with the age of eligibility for Disability Allowance. If the young person continues to have a disability that significantly impacts their daily life, they can then apply for a Disability Allowance payment in their own name. If their parent or guardian continues to provide full-time care they can then retain, or apply for, a carer's payment.
My Department published the Green Paper on Disability Reform in September 2023. One of the key proposals in the Green Paper on Disability Reform was to extend the upper age limit for Domiciliary Care Allowance and the lower age limit for Disability Allowance to 18 years of age. The Green Paper was a consultation document and was withdrawn following feedback from disability stakeholders.
Any future reform of disability or carers payments, including Domiciliary Care Allowance, will be considered in the context of our commitments in the Programme for Government and the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
