asked the Minister for Health if there are circumstances in which a health board may pay a domiciliary care allowance from a date prior to the application in respect of a child over two years of age where the child's parents were not aware of their entitlement to such allowance; if so, if he will outline such circumstances; and, if not, if he will take steps to confer such entitlement.

It is not the policy of health boards to pay a domiciliary care allowance from a date prior to application for the allowance. It would be inappropriate for me to direct health boards to modify this policy. Other income maintenance schemes under health boards and the Department of Social Welfare are operated on a similar basis.