Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2018
547. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rates of poverty for persons with a disability here; the way in which this compares to the European average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53698/18]
View answerIn the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), disability is based on the concept of global activity limitation. This is defined as a “limitation in activities people usually do because of health problems for at least the past six months”. The most recent available EU-SILC data from 2016 shows that the rate for people (aged 16 years and over) at risk of poverty or social exclusion, who are limited in their normal activities due to a health problem was 40.8% in Ireland, compared to the EU average of 30.1%.
However, the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions provides data on people aged 16 years and over who are not at work due to illness or disability. The most recent data from the 2017 Survey on Income and Living Conditions, published by the CSO this week, shows that the consistent poverty rate for people not at work due to illness or disability was 24%, a reduction on the 2016 figure of 25.9%. The 2017 at-risk-of-poverty rate for people not at work due to illness or disability was 35.4%, down from 39.2% in 2016, while the 2017 deprivation rate was. 45.9% down from 47.0% in 2016. It should be noted that the SILC data from 2012 through to 2016 was revised by the CSO, resulting in some changes to previously published data. However the CSO has stated that the revised estimates are not statistically significantly different from the pre-revision estimates https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/socialconditions/).
It is recognised that the best route out of poverty and social exclusion is through paid employment and the Government is committed to increasing the employment opportunities for people with a disability which includes a range of specific income, activation and employment supports provided by my Department. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities adopts a cross-government approach that brings together various measures, to be taken by different Departments and State agencies, in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on the employment of people with disabilities. These priorities are incorporated into the Pathways to Work Strategy and this ensures that there is an integrated focus on supports that enable people with disabilities to participate in employment where they have the capacity to do so.
The partial capacity benefit scheme enables recipients of invalidity pension and illness benefit to take-up employment, on a voluntary basis, while continuing to receive income support. The Department manages a supported employment service (EmployAbility) which provides a dedicated job-coaching service for people with disabilities. Intreo services are also available to provide employment support services for people with disabilities who wish to engage with the service on a voluntary basis. There is also a focus on supports available to employers who employ people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Workplace Equipment Adaption Grant Scheme. In addition, €300,000 has been allocated in Budget 2019, to commission research on the additional costs of living with a disability.
The improvement in the economy, together with the welfare measures referred to, are likely to have supported a further reduction in the rate of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by limitation in activities in the period since 2016, including for people with disabilities. This improvement is expected to continue with further forecast rises in employment, incomes and living standards.
