Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Mar 2000

Vol. 515 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

22 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of persons on invalidity benefit who have been able to avail of community employment or other part-time work schemes; and if he will make a statement on his future plans for this programme. [6125/00]

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

One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of invalidity pension requires that the person must be permanently incapable of work. While there is a general rule that invalidity pensioners are not allowed to engage in work, it is nonetheless recognised that support and encouragement should be provided for people with disabilities and those with long-term incapacities to become more self-reliant and less dependent on the social welfare system by facilitating them in taking up available employment and training opportunities.

In this regard, invalidity pensioners are allowed to engage in occupational training where they are incapable of following their usual occupation and also to engage in rehabilitative or therapeutic work. No income limits apply to such employment and training. However, an invalidity pensioner must obtain prior approval from the Department before engaging in such activity.

My Department has entered into an arrangement whereby certification by the NRB that an invalidity pensioner requires rehabilitative training or employment is accepted for the purposes of allowing them to continue to receive full payment and engage in such activity. Some 2,500 invalidity pensioners are currently engaged in rehabilitative training or employment, almost 2,000, 80%, of whom have been certified by the NRB. Out of the overall total of 2,500, over 1,400 invalidity pensioners, 57%, are engaged in the CE programme or other FÁS employment options, while almost 570 people, 23%, are engaged in part-time employment.

As part of a package of measures to further enhance the social welfare supports for people with disabilities, the recent budget provided for two important improvements for invalidity pensioners. First, the back to work allowance scheme, which currently applies to recipients of disability allowance and blind person's pension, is being extended from April to invalidity pensioners. Participants in this scheme can take up employment in the open labour market and continue to receive their social welfare payment on a sliding scale over a three year period, four years if they take up self-employment. Second, the back to education allowance is also being extended to invalidity pensioners from September next. Participants in this scheme can continue to receive their full weekly payment while undergoing approved second or third level education courses. In addition, a cost of education allowance of £200 is paid towards the cost of books and related expenses.

The range of employment, training and education supports provided by my Department for people with disabilities will continue to be developed in the light of the experience gained in the operation of the existing and proposed new supports and having regard to the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities.