Social Protection | The number of applications made for domiciliary care allowance in each of the past three years to date, the number granted, the number refused and the number granted following appeal

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made for domiciliary care allowance in each of the past three years to date; the number granted; the number refused; the number granted following appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

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 in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where 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.

The following table sets out the number of applications made for Domiciliary Care Allowance in each of the past 3 years to date; the number granted/ allowed;  the number refused/ disallowed;  including the number granted/ allowed following appeal;

Year	Applications Received	Applications Allowed	Applications Disallowed	Applications Allowed following Appeal	Applications Partially Allowed following Appeal
2022	10,524	7,872	3,948	698	48
2023	12,327	8,045	4,076	862	54
2024 (available to 30/04/24)	4,194	3,072	1,494	268	15

In many cases, more than one decision may be made where an applicant provides further information/ documentary evidence and/or seeks a review of a decision,  i.e. an application can be disallowed initially and then subsequently allowed on review.  Applicants are advised to provide as much detail as possible at application stage, including any additional information and/or documentary evidence that is relevant, to ensure that all information is available to my Department for the decision and assessment process.