Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 6

Written Answers. - Rights of People with Disabilities.

Donal Carey

Question:

176 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of measures which his Department has enacted referring to people with disabilities; the date of their passing; the benefits accruing to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12759/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I presume the Deputy is referring to supports available for people with disabilities introduced and operated by my Department.

Infectious Diseases Maintenance Allowance (IDMA): this allowance is payable to people who are unable to make reasonable provision for their own maintenance or that of their dependants because they are undergoing treatment for an infectious disease specified in the regulations. It was introduced under the 1947 Health Act and Regulations, these are updated annually. The current personal rate is £70.50 per week.

Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA): the DCA applies to severely disabled children between the ages of two and 16 who are living at home and who need a level of care and attention which is considerably in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. It was introduced by a departmental circular in 1973 under section 61 of the Health Act, 1970. The current rate is £106.70 per month.

Blind Welfare Allowance (BWA): this is a supplementary allowance for unemployed blind-visually impaired people who are also recipients of blind pension, disability allowance or an old age pension. The BWA was introduced under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, and criteria for eligibility were set out in a departmental circular in March 1979. The maximum personal rate is now £21.90 per week.

Mobility Allowance: this is a monthly payment to severely disabled people who satisfy a means test and who are unable to walk or use public transport. Its purpose is to finance occasional taxi journeys for people in this category. The allowance came into effect following a departmental circular in August 1979 and the statutory basis is section 61 of the Health Act, 1970. The maximum rate is £41.40 per month.

Motorised Transport Grant: this grant is payable, subject to a means test to people with disabilities who need a car in order to gain or retain employment. However, people living in an isolated area may also qualify under this scheme. The motorised transport grant came into operation in 1968 and guidelines are contained in departmental circulars issued in 1968 and 1974. The maximum grant payable is £2,884.

Rehabilitation Allowance (Top Up): this allowance is payable to people with disabilities who are over 16 years of age, engaged in full-time rehabilitation training approved by the relevant health board and living away from home. Criteria for eligibility on means and medical grounds are similar to those which apply to disability allowance. The disabled person's rehabilitation allowance was originally established under regulations in 1963 which were amended in 1973. The rate of payment is £15 per week.

Capitation Allowances for Disabled Persons in Training Centres and Community Workshops: these allowances are intended to meet the cost of providing vocational training and make a small payment to the trainee. The statutory basis is section 68 of the Health Act, 1970, and the current rates are £1,284 per annum for rehabilitation training centres and £1,167 per annum for community workshops.