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Disability Allowance Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (439)

Peter Mathews

Question:

439. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to deal with an issue relating to disability payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5421/13]

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Written answers

I should state at the outset that it is important that, as a Government, we are committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable sectors of Irish society – through income and employment supports and through the provision of quality services. However, the steady increase in the numbers availing of illness and disability related income supports is clearly a matter for concern, in view of the fact that my Department will spend over €2.5 billion in this area in 2013.

I am satisfied that there is little basis for suggesting that the rise in the numbers can be attributed to any easing of access to illness and disability-related income support schemes - beyond some minor changes to the means-test associated with disability allowance scheme and the extension of entitlement to that payment to persons resident in institutions, the medical criteria governing entitlement to illness and disability related schemes have not been changed - but it has been evident to me since coming into office that a greater focus is required on addressing the drift from short-term illness into long-term disability.

The capping of entitlement to Illness Benefit to a maximum of two years, a measure introduced in 2009, was an important step in this regard. The impact of this measure is not reflected in the data cited in the article referred to by the Deputy which relies largely on data from 2010. Measures such as the Renaissance project, which provides for intervention by the Medical Assessors in my Department in cases of lower back pain, are also proving effective at encouraging people to return to work and this approach has been extended to claimants presenting with mild anxiety and depression.

More generally, it is my belief that for all claimants, the welfare system must always have a strong focus on activation and employment where that is a feasible option. The partial capacity benefit scheme, which I introduced in 2012, enables claimants of invalidity pension and illness benefit to take up some work while continuing to receive income support from the State. Similarly, the earnings disregard available under the disability allowance scheme is designed to facilitate claimants of that payment to avail of employment opportunities. My Department also funds the EmployAbility service, which provides a dedicated job-coaching service for people with disabilities as well as providing a range of supports to employers who employ people with disabilities. Finally, I should mention also that I was pleased to announce recently the allocation of over €7 million to 14 projects across the Border Midlands and West (BMW) region as part of the Disability Activation Project (DACT). These projects will run until early 2015. The DACT Project is jointly funded by the European Social Fund and my Department and addresses four strands: (i) Improving Access to Employment, (ii) Progression Programmes for Young People, (iii) Support for Progression and Retention of People with an Acquired Disability and (iv) Innovative Employer Initiatives. These projects will, I am confident, provide invaluable guidance and learning on how best to ensure that the untapped potential of people with disabilities is allowed to flourish and that they are enabled to participate fully in the labour market. They reflect also my key objectives as Minister for Social Protection which are to ensure that those in most need of the support of the Department are protected and that we do everything possible to get people back to work.

Questions Nos. 440 and 441 withdrawn.
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