Review of Domiciliary Care Allowance welcomed

Posted May 11th, 2012 in Children, Disability

The ‘myth’ everything is alright with the system has been dispelled, says Wicklow TD

Fine Gael Wicklow TD, Simon Harris, has welcomed the Government’s commitment to holding an urgent review of Domiciliary Care Allowance, a payment made in respect of children with special needs.


Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Harris said, “There is no doubt in my mind we need an urgent review of the domiciliary care scheme and how it operates. The delays are unacceptable, the inconsistencies in decisions are unfair and the system of reviewing cases can, at times, be cold, illogical and ill-timed.”

“I welcome the fact the Government has now undertaken to carry out this urgent review. This in itself has moved the matter on because it dispelled the myth that everything is alright with the scheme, and shifted the debate in a very positive direction.”

“It is vital that any such review has a way for parents and carers to input their experiences, because so much of what goes on in the life of a child with special needs happens behind closed doors. Parents are the experts, and it is vital that their voices, and through them, the voices of their children, are heard during this review.”