The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities has highlighted the fact that there is inadequate information available on people with disabilities, particularly in relation to their numbers, characteristics and needs. However, the limited research which is available would suggest that, even before their special needs are taken into account, people with disabilities face a high risk of poverty.
In this regard, the Government is committed in its action programme to radical change to ensure that the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities, their families, carers and advocates are comprehensively addressed. Specifically, the Government is committed to overhauling the means by which the State supports the incomes of people with disabilities, to implementing the Report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities and to progressively relaxing the qualifying criteria for the carer's allowance.
The Government has implemented a number of recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities in relation to income support, namely that the rates of payment recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare – CSW – be achieved as a matter of priority and a package of improved benefits be introduced for carers. As a result of the improvements which have been provided for by this Government, all payments to people with disabilities are now above the rates recommended by the CSW. Following implementation of the recently announced budget increases, payments for people with disabilities will range between 102 and 124 per cent of the CSW's target rate. In addition, the 1999 budget provides for the introduction of a major package of improvements for carers and people with disabilities costing over £18.6 million in a full year. They are improvements.
Various studies have highlighted the fact that low employment rates lead to higher levels of poverty and social exclusion among people with disabilities. In this regard, significant progress has been made by my Department in recent years in relation to the employment and educational supports which are provided for people with disabilities. For instance, the back-to-work allowance and back to education programme, under my Department, have been extended to people with disabilities.