Vol. 520 No. 3
84 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to review the means testing for disability allowances which mitigates against women in the home qualifying for such allowances; and his views on the fact that if individualisation is to apply to income tax assessment it should also apply to means testing and that a disabled person should not be penalised because of their spouses income. [15721/00]
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness states that "the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, and the Department of Finance will set up and participate in a working group which will consult with the social partners to examine the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment". My Department is in consultation with the other relevant Departments regarding the membership of this working group, which is expected to begin its work within a matter of weeks.
In examining the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment it is anticipated that the group will look at the various disability allowances currently in place. In this context it is also anticipated that the issue of means testing would be considered.
