Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 2

Written Answers - Services for People with Disabilities.

Mildred Fox

Question:

308 Ms M. Fox asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of disabled unemployed people actively seeking employment other than sheltered employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24772/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Statistics on the lines requested by the Deputy are not compiled by my Department. The provision of employment and training supports for people with disabilities is a matter for which the Minister for Health and Children has primary responsibility. However, following the dissolution of the National Rehabilitation Board in the new year, as recommended by the establishment group for a national disability authority, the main employment and training supports for people with disabilities will become the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

While the main employment supports for people with disabilities do not fall within my Department's remit, I am nevertheless conscious of the important role social welfare income support plays and, in particular, the consequences that taking up employment and other opportunities can have on entitlements. In this regard, significant progress has been made by my Department in recent years in relation to the employment and educational supports being provided for people with disabilities. For example, the back-to-work allowance scheme, under which unemployed persons can take up employment and continue to retain a portion of their social welfare payment and the related secondary benefits has been extended to people with disabilities. This measure complements the existing employment supports which are available through the NRB and which are of particular importance to people with disabilities in gaining access to the open labour market.

It is accepted that many people with disabilities are not in a position to engage in such employment. Accordingly, additional measures have been taken to facilitate these people so that they can engage in other forms of employment and training, such as sheltered or rehabilitative employment. In this regard, the 1998 budget provided for a significant increase, from £36.30 to £50, in the amount of earnings from rehabilitative employment which can be disregarded for means test purposes in the case of the disability allowance and blind person's pension schemes.

In addition, provision exists whereby people with disabilities who are receiving invalidity pension or disability benefit can, with the prior approval of the Department, undertake rehabilitative employment and training opportunities, without any loss of entitlements. There are over 1,800 people availing of this facility.

The 1998 budget also provides for an extension of the back-to-education programme to people with disabilities. Under this programme, people with disabilities are entitled to an allowance of £150 towards the cost of books and related expenses.

The question of making further improvements in the services and supports operated by my Department for people with disabilities is a matter for consideration in a budgetary context, in the light of available resources and having regard to the commitments in An Action Programme for the Millennium, Partnership 2000 and the national anti-poverty strategy.