Frances Fitzgerald
Question:184 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his plans for better provisions for the disabled in our society. [30036/00]
Written Answers. - Future Plans for Disabled.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities, their families, carers
and advocates are comprehensively addressed. In this regard, the Government has placed the needs of people with disabilities as a key issue on the agenda of every Government Department and public body. Last week's budget provides for a continuation of the improvements provided by the Government for people with disabilities with significant improvements in the funding for services for those with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities, in improved employment support services and in upgrading transport services to make them wheelchair-accessible.
With regard to my own area of responsibility, substantial progress has been made in relation to the supports provided by my Department for people with disabilities and their carers. Last week's record social welfare budget allocation of £850 million continued with these improvements, by providing for a £10 per week increase for people with disabilities and their carers aged 66 years and over; an £8 per week increase for people with disabilities and their carers aged under 66 years; increases to be paid four weeks earlier than last year, from April 2001; fuel allowance to be extended by three extra weeks, from first week in October to late April; additional £6 per week living alone allowance to be paid to recipients of invalidity pension, disability allowance, unemployability supplement and blind person's pension from April 2001; full rate disability allowance to be paid where the person's partner is in receipt of any other social welfare payment, from April 2001, weekly increases of between £35 and £46; current exemption of income, up to £150,000, from the sale of a pensioner's residence to be extended to people getting disability allowance and blind person's pension from April 2001; weekly income disregards for carer's allowance to be increased from £75 (single), £150 (couple) to £125/250 respectively, from April 2001; respite care grant to be increased from £300 to £400 and £800 grant to be paid to carers looking after two or more people; access to back to education allowance for all people with disabilities following completion of a community employment scheme; £1 million extra for Comhairle Information Service.
These measures build on the other improvements which I have introduced since taking up office. For instance payments to people with disabilities and their carers have been substantially increased in real terms; a range of measures have been introduced to improve access to disability allowance for people in full-time residential care; various measures have been introduced to facilitate people with disabilities in accessing employment, training and educational opportunities; significant improvements in the assessment of capital for disability allowance purposes have been introduced leading to a five-fold increase from £2,000 to £10,000 in the amount of capital which is disregarded for means test purposes.
Going forward, I intend to continue to improve and enhance the services which my Department operates for people with disabilities and their carers to ensure that they share in the benefits of our economic success and that they have an equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of society.
One particular issue affecting people with disabilities is the additional costs arising from disability. Arising from a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, a working group has been established under the chair of the Department of Health and Children to examine the feasibility of the introduction of a cost of disability payment. This working group, which comprises representatives of the Departments of Finance, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and my own Department, will consult with the social partners.
This is a complex area and involves a wide range of payments and services which are currently being provided by a number of separate Departments and agencies. The outcome of the work of the group will inform future policy in this area, and I look forward to receiving the results in due course.