Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, that eligibility reviews of children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance has been postponed pending the completion of a review of the scheme.
Recipients of the allowance were informed during the week that no further scheduled medical eligibility reviews of children receiving the payment will be undertaken. Deputy O’Mahony said that a steering group of representatives of relevant departments, together with nominees with expertise and parent/advocacy group representatives has been established and is expected to report to the Minister by the end of the year.
“The review will examine the policy objectives of the scheme, the administrative processes, and consider any changes required to improve the operation of the scheme. Individuals and groups representing children with disabilities are also invited to make submissions and the closing date is September 28 and they can be sent to www.welfare.ie/EN/Documents/DCA_ReviewSubmissions doc.”
He said that he would be encouraging people to make submissions if they felt that there were ways to improve the scheme. “The DCA is vitally important for many families and if people feel that the system can be improved then they should make their views known.”
