Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
882. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the response of her Department to the findings of the Cost of Disability in Ireland research report; the plans that will be made in quarter one 2022 in response to these findings; if she will implement an all-Department response which will be timescaled and measured to ensure everyday costs are reduced for persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63218/21]
View answerThe cost of disability is significantly broader than income supports and it is clear that it will not be addressed through income support alone.
The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy including the delivery of care services, health, housing, education, transport and income supports so this is why a whole-of-Government perspective is needed.
With regard to implementing an all Department response as outlined by the Deputy, the Government has referred the report on the Cost of Disability to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group. This Steering Group is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte.
This Group has oversight of monitoring the key frameworks for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and it is in this regard that the Government saw it fitting that this group would be the appropriate monitoring vehicle. It will consider and monitor actions required by the various Government Departments on foot of this report on a bi-annual basis.
The Group has started its work and had an in-depth briefing by the authors of the report, Indecon International Economic Consultants at its meeting on 15 December 2021. I attended this meeting along with my colleagues Minister O’ Gorman and Minister of State Rabbitte.
All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implementing and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.
From the perspective of my Department, it is worth noting that a number of measures were introduced as part of Budget 2022 in relation to people with disabilities and their carers, which will go towards alleviating the financial costs experienced. These include:-
- €5 increase in maximum rate of all core weekly payments including people with disabilities and carers, with proportionate increases for qualified adults, with effect from January.
- €3 increase for qualified child dependants aged 12 and over and €2 for those up to age 12, in all core weekly payments.
- An increase in the general weekly means disregard for Disability Allowance from €2.50 to €7.60 per week.
- An increase in the earnings limit on Disability Allowance from €350 to €375.
- €3 increase in the weekly Living Alone Allowance from €19 to €22 for people with disabilities who are living alone.
- €5 increase in the Fuel Allowance from €28 to €33 per week, from 12 October 2021.
- The employment and recruitment service for people with a disability, Employability, will now provide grants directly to those who qualify.
- An increase to the Wage Subsidy paid to employers who employ people with a disability from €5.30 to €6.30 an hour, thereby encouraging more employers to employ people with a disability.
- An increase in the Capital/Savings disregard for Carer’s Allowance from €20,000 to €50,000 from June.
- An increase in the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance to €350 a week for single carers and to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner, also from June.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be paid for children who go into hospital for up to 6 months (currently 3 months). Carer’s Allowance will also continue to be paid in respect of children who go into hospital for 6 months. This will take effect in January.
Furthermore, under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion my Department has a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long term disability payments. I have asked my officials to revisit the ‘strawman’ proposal to take on board the findings in the Cost of Disability research.
One of the key conclusions contained in the report referenced the significant challenges faced in accessing employment and that a high priority should be given to facilitating an increase in employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In this regard the Pathways to Work Strategy, includes a key action to extend targeted employment supports to groups facing additional challenges accessing work, such as people with disabilities.
My Department is also actively feeding into the new Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities with a range of actions and associated timelines.
Finally, the Programme for Government is very clear that this research will be used to inform the direction of future policy in relation to people with disabilities in our society.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
