Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2015
193. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who are deaf and blind do not receive an allowance similar to the blind and deaf allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20062/15]
View answerThe Department provides a comprehensive range of income supports for people with disabilities including blind pension.
The blind person's pension (BPP) is a unique scheme in that it is the only social welfare payment which was introduced to cater for a specific disability. It was originally legislated for under the Blind Person's Act, 1920 and separate treatment of people who are blind reflected the perceptions around the nature of disability at that time.
More recently-introduced income supports for people with disabilities provide support based on need rather than on the nature of the disability and I have no plans to change that approach by introducing any new schemes or allowances, based on specific disabilities.
