Gary Gannon
Question:105. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of disability for persons and families, on which there is a commitment in the programme for Government. [35631/21]
View answerThursday, 1 July 2021
Questions (105)
Oral answers (6 contributions)
My question is to ask the Minister for an update on meeting the cost of disability for persons and families, as committed to in the programme for Government.
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.
The programme for Government includes a commitment to using the research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy. My Department commissioned Indecon International Economic Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland. The report has now been received by my Department and it is considering it in detail. This matter is significantly wider than the income support system and it is clear that it will not be addressed through income support alone. This is why a whole-of-government perspective is being taken.
The level of engagement with individuals living with disabilities through the survey undertaken and the level of the response from those people provided vital inputs to the research. To Indecon's knowledge, this survey was by far the largest such survey of individuals living with disabilities in Ireland. While this may have delayed the finalisation of the report, the quality of the report is going to be enhanced by the scale of the survey and the subsequent analysis.
Due consideration will have to be given to the findings of the report by the relevant Departments, namely, the Departments of Health, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Public Expenditure and Reform, all of which have a role to play in the delivery of disability services. As a first step, we will be sharing the report with and seeking the views of these Departments. Once this process is complete, I intend to submit the report to the Government. I then intend to host a forum of interested stakeholders to discuss the report and receive inputs on how we might best address issues raised in it. I plan for this to take place in the autumn.
Separately, the supports and services for people with a disability are continually reviewed by my Department. In budget 2021, I introduced several improvements, including an increase of €20 in the earnings disregard for recipients of disability allowance, a €1,000 training grant to help people with disabilities who are seeking employment, and an increase of €150 to the carer's support grant.
I am aware that Indecon was commissioned by the Department to carry out this much-needed research. There was a much higher response rate than expected, and that has delayed the project. I accept that; it is understandable. There were 4,700 responses from people with disabilities received whereas the target was 1,000. I saw the survey and acknowledge the time that went into each submission, and I agree that the substantial information and insight gained will be invaluable. As the Minister stated, the survey was one of the most detailed ever undertaken in Ireland of individuals with disabilities. However, it is precisely because of how valuable the information in the report is that we need to publish it as soon as possible. I did not glean from the Minister's answer that the report would be ready in time to inform budget 2022. If that is the case, it is quite disappointing. Could the Minister confirm whether the report will be finished and inform the outcomes of budget 2022 across Departments?
I thank the Deputy. As he said, this is a major piece of work. Indecon believes it is the largest survey of people living with disabilities ever undertaken in Ireland. I will be engaging with the disability representative groups as part of my Department's pre-budget forum on 14 July. As I outlined in my reply, we took several positive steps in last year's budget. Of course we want to do more but, before taking the next step, I have to get feedback from the other Departments. I want to take the report the Government. It has implications for other Departments so I need to have their input. I want them to consider the report. It has taken a good deal of time to put it together. There have been unprecedented levels of consultation. Once the report is approved by the Government, I want there to be full, open and frank engagement with the disability sector on its findings. I look forward to engaging with the Deputy on it.
I do not believe we are disagreeing in any way, shape or form here but the original report was expected at the end of 2020. While I fully appreciate that the delays understandable, can the Minister, if possible, provide assurances that the report will be available before the budget to inform it? Furthermore, if the report is not completed, could the Government commit, as an interim measure on foot of what is committed to in the programme for Government, to an increase of €20 per week in the disability allowance in the budget? I accept that it is not all about income but people with disabilities are living in poverty, which does come down to income. In the absence of an approved report, and taking from the Minister's contribution that the report may not be approved in time to inform budget 2022, could we at least commit to an increase to the disability allowance of €20?
As the Deputy knows, when it comes to the budget there are many competing priorities. It is a bit early to have a discussion on it. We want to do more this year but we will consider everything. We have the benefit of the report. We will be talking to the other Departments and bring the report to the Government. I will be consulting on 14 July. I am holding a pre-budget forum and I will be consulting the various organisations, including the disability representative groups, which I have already met this year. I will continue to engage closely with the sector and my Government colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte, with whom I work extremely well. She is doing wonderful work in this area.
This is not just my Department alone but a number of Departments are involved here and we will certainly be taking on board the recommendations of this report.