Vol. 502 No. 1
47 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a specific allowance to meet the extra costs associated with an individual's disability has not been introduced; the Government's proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7235/99]
The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities in its report, A Strategy for Equality, recommended the establishment of a graduated payment to meet the additional everyday costs associated with disability. This payment was referred to as a costs of disability payment. The Commission recommended the establishment of this payment having identified what it described as several serious weaknesses in the provision of income support for people with disabilities. It contended that the level of allowances payable by the State do not make provision for the costs of disability, which can be very high for many people.
My Department is currently chairing an interdepartmental task force which is drafting a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities, based on the commission's report. The issue of a costs of disability payment is being considered by the task force in the context of its overall consideration of the Commission's report. I await with interest the outcome of the task force's deliberations and it is my intention to submit the plan of action to Government as soon as possible after its completion. The administration of a payment such as that recommended by the commission would not be a matter for my Department but would, instead, fall under the responsibility of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
