Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which she will address inequalities relating to poverty during 2021; the specific improvements she will make in 2021 for persons with disabilities experiencing poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39850/20]
View answerIn January 2020, the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025: Ambition, Goals, Commitments was approved by Government and published. The Roadmap is a whole-of-government strategy with a five year timeframe and a mid-term review in 2022 facilitate an evaluation of the impact of the Roadmap commitments. The Roadmap will build on the work of its predecessors with the aim of reducing the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland and increasing social inclusion for those who are most disadvantaged. This is reflected in its clearly stated ambition to “Reduce consistent poverty to 2% or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU”. The Roadmap translates this ambition into seven Goals underpinned by 66 unique Commitments (actions) that will be taken to help deliver these goals. The challenges facing people with disabilities is acknowledged in the Roadmap, which includes the specific goal of improving social inclusion of people with disabilities by reducing poverty, improving employment outcomes and delivering better services. In addition specific employment and poverty targets have been set including the reduction of at risk of poverty and social exclusion rate for people with disabilities from the 2018 rate of 36.9% to 28.7% in 2025 (and a further reduction to 22.7% by 2030). The Roadmap complements the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities with a specific commitment supporting their implementation. In addition, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is represented on the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group, which monitors the implementation and progress of the Roadmap commitments. Budget 2021 saw the introduction of a number of measures aimed at increasing supports for people with disabilities and their families. These include an increase in the earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension to €140 per week; an increase weekly Living Alone Allowance to €19 for people with disabilities who are living alone; increases in the qualified child rates (for children under and over 12 years of age); changes in the hearing aid grant (move to a flat rate grant) and an increase to the annual Carer’s Support Grant of €1,850 per year. Work is progressing on the cost of disability research with the report due to be finalised in the coming months. The Department also has an allocation of €5 million under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 to support and improve employment opportunities for carers and persons with a disability. This includes a specific measure for access to employment and self-employment for people with a disability. Applications for the fund are being assessed by Pobal with funding to be provided to successful applications from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2022. The new Programme for Government commits to the full implementation of the Roadmap, ensuring that social inclusion and poverty reduction will remain at the heart of government. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to support the most vulnerable members of our society on an ongoing basis. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
