Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
417. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on introducing a cost of disability payment in Budget 2024 of at least €20 per week as a first step to addressing the significant additional costs of having a disability. [30775/23]
View answerThe Indecon Cost of Disability report highlighted that there is not a single typical ‘cost of disability’; rather there is a spectrum from low additional costs to extremely high extra costs of disability, depending on the individual circumstances of the person concerned. It also highlighted that the cost of disability is significantly broader than the income support system and includes housing, equipment, transport, medicines and care. The report therefore suggested that the issue needs a whole-of-government response.
The Department of Social Protection provides income supports for people with disabilities. The main long term disability payment supports are Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension. The combined number of recipients of these payments was 216,000 as of May 2023.
Based on the current recipients of disability payments from my Department, the estimated costs associated with introducing a cost-of-disability payment of €20 per week would be €225 million in a full year.
The 2022 census suggests there are 1.1 million people experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty, therefore the costs estimated above are likely to be significantly higher.
I will continue to keep the range of supports provided by this Department under review. However, any changes to the current supports provided, or the introduction of new payments as suggested by the Deputy, would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
