New figures show while the numbers of families turned down for the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) has fallen, almost 80% of applications that were rejected were later granted the payment on appeal.

More families are bringing court challenges against the Department of Social Protection over its refusal to grant them Domiciliary Care Allowance, and in many cases are bypassing the department’s appeals system altogether.

An increasing number of families are being forced to go to the High Court to reverse decisions not to grant allowances for children with severe disabilities.

The letter landed through the front door last Friday — and it wasn’t good news.

A mother of three children with autism has brought a High Court action arising out of the social protection minister’s refusal to pay her the domiciliary care allowance in respect of her youngest child, Éadaoin, 2.