Seán Sherlock
Question:359. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a €20 per week cost of disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38393/22]
View answerWednesday, 13 July 2022
Questions (359)
Written answers
The Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability is a wider issue than income supports and runs across a number of areas of expenditure. These include housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses.
Indecon also identified that there is not a single typical cost of disability; rather, there is a spectrum from low to high additional costs, depending on individual circumstances.
As the findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy, a whole-of-Government perspective is needed.
This is why the Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, which Is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability. This group comprises of relevant departments, agencies, a Disability Stakeholder Group and people with disabilities. The group will consider and monitor recommended actions required by the various Government Departments bi-annually.
From the perspective of the 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 reflect some of the findings of the report. These included a combination of core weekly payment rate increases, increases in earnings disregards as well as supports to employers.
The estimated additional annual cost to the Exchequer of a weekly cost of disability payment of €20 is as follows:
|
285,958* |
x€20 |
x 52wks |
€297m |
* Note: the estimate is based only on persons in receipt of the following payments (at the end of May 2022): Domiciliary Care Allowance, Partial Capacity Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Disablement Benefit. The cost of such an approach would increase, as other payment groups may need to be included, given demographic trends and other factors.It is important to note that the above approach is not in line with the cost of disability report conclusions. The report notes that the concentration of any additional supports should be targeted on those most in need and who face the greatest additional costs of disability - that this approach would be more effective in meeting policy objectives and in enhancing value for money than in introducing additional small scale supports for those who face minor additional costs of disability. The report also indicated that the levels of disability payments and allowances should be changed to reflect the very different costs of disability by severity and type of disability.Under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and Pathways to Work strategies, the Department has committed to developing and consulting on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to ‘simplify the system, remove inconsistencies/anomalies, recognise the continuum of disability and to support employment’. Work on a ‘Strawman’ proposal is underway by officials, and the proposal will take on board the recommendations of the Indecon report, with a public consultation process to commence in due course.