Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 4

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

365 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the total amount of funding allocated by her Department for the provision of payments, facilities or services for those with physical or intellectual disabilities in 2003, giving the heading or sub-heading in the estimates under which the allocation has been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19528/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

My Department administers a number of income support schemes which are specifically targeted at persons who are sick, disabled or caring for a sick or disabled person. The total amount allocated to such schemes for 2003 is approximately €1.57 billion. This represents 15.3% of my Department's total budget for the year. The amount allocated to each relevant scheme, as set out in the Revised Estimates volume for the year as follows:

Vote 40:

	€m
Subhead CBlind Pension	14.90
Subhead DCarers Allowance	179.62
Subhead ODisability Allowance	446.67
Social Insurance Fund
Disability Benefit	401.30
Invalidity Pension	439.80
Occupational Injuries Benefits	80.34
Carers Benefit	8.15
Total	1,570.78

In addition, my Department administers a broad range of income support schemes to which both disabled and able-bodied persons have access on an equal basis. Such schemes would include payments to the elderly, unemployed, those trying to access the labour market and those on low income.