Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Feb 1994

Vol. 439 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

67 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to discriminatory payment practices in his Department in so far as allowances to severely disabled persons are considerably less than allowances payable to able-bodied unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Enda Kenny

Question:

100 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the severe hardship resulting from the absence of a disability allowance payable to disabled persons whether in or out of work having regard to inordinate costs and outlay associated with certain disabilities.

Peter Barry

Question:

52 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for health if his attention has been drawn to the severe hardship resulting from the absence of a disability allowance payable to disabled persons whether in or out of work having regard to inordinate costs and outlay associated with certain disabilities.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

76 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the severe hardship resulting from the absence of a disability allowance payable to disabled persons whether in or out of work having regard to inordinate costs and outlay associated with certain disabilities.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 67, 76 and 100 together.

My Department is responsible for a number of income support schemes for disabled people which are administered by the health boards. These are as follows: Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance; Disabled Person's Rehabilitation Allowance; Domiciliary Care Allowance; Mobility Allowance; Motorised Transport Grant and Blind Welfare Allowance.

Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance is the primary income support scheme operated by my Department for people who, because of their disability, cannot work and are not in a position to maintain themselves. The rate of disabled person's maintenance allowance at £59.20 is equal to long term unemployment benefit and is in fact in excess of disability benefit. In addition, recipients of disabled person's maintenance allowance may also be entitled to other secondary benefits such as a medical card, free travel, free electricity allowance, free television allowance, telephone rental allowance, free fuel and butter vouchers. A total of 28,759 people were in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance in 1992 and the 1994 cost of this scheme is estimated at £88.266 million.

The extra costs associated with disability are met in a variety of ways, that is mobility allowance, long term illness scheme, drugs subsidy and refund schemes, provision of technical aids and appliances, tax reliefs and housing grants. In addition, people with disabilities may avail of other support services such as home helps, day and respite care and vocational training services.