Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
73 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the range of options he has identified to assist persons with disabilities who are in receipt of social welfare payments, to take up employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28151/04]
View answerMy Department operates a number of schemes which provide income support to persons who are unfit to work because of illness, or who are "substantially handicapped" from doing work which would otherwise be suitable for a person of that age, experience and qualifications. These payments include, for instance, the contributory disability benefit and invalidity pension schemes and the means-tested disability allowance and blind person's pension schemes. In addition, there is a further range of benefits available under the occupational injury benefits scheme for people who have been disabled as a result of an accident at work.
There is also a number of employment and training incentives available within the social welfare system to encourage and facilitate people with disabilities to take up available employment and training options. In recent years, the range of employment supports has been widened considerably and now includes the back to work allowance, exemptions from the general "no work" conditions for contributory illness and disability payments, income disregards in the case of means-tested payments, family income supplement, the job facilitator network, and exemptions from liability for employer and employee social security contributions.
As part of the Government's expenditure review initiative, a working group established by my Department reviewed the illness and disability schemes provided by the Department and by the Department of Health and Children. The review identified a number of areas where employment support could be strengthened within the social welfare system and across Departments generally. The review considered that there is no single option which offers a total solution to all these problems. Rather, a combination of measures is required.
There should be a recognition that some people's medical and other circumstances may mean that they have some capacity for work, but may never achieve full-time work. The review mentioned the importance of ensuring that whatever employment support measures are adopted do not act as a disincentive for people with disabilities and long-term illnesses in maximising their employment and earnings potential. Another recommendation is to retain a range of employment supports for different client groups, and to ensure that clients are referred to the most suitable option, having regard to the nature of their illness or disability, age, social circumstances and so on. The review also recommended the introduction of early intervention measures which are aimed at re-integrating people who sustain serious illnesses, injuries and disabilities back into the workforce before they become dependent in the long term on social welfare payments.
The review also stresses the importance of meeting the additional costs of disability in ways that are less dependent on labour force status, if people with disabilities are to be given the opportunity of participating in the workforce. The review sets out a strategic direction for policy with regard to these schemes in the future and its recommendations will be taken on board in the context of the future development of the scheme.
It is appalling that the Minister has not identified a single measure specifically designed to help people with disabilities to return to employment. Has the Minister considered the Disability Bill 2004, which is a disgrace and does nothing to assist disabled persons in gaining employment? Can the Minister name one measure, the specific objective of which is to assist those with disabilities who want and are able to work but are barred from doing so because of the barriers that exist?
I have outlined a number of measures in this regard. I will continue in the context of the upcoming Comhairle Bill to provide further information on this issue.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
