Michael Moynihan
Question:61. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an overview of the recent Green Paper on reform to disability payments. [46384/23]
View answerTuesday, 24 October 2023
Questions (61, 62)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:62. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to review the criteria for qualification for the disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46230/23]
View answerOral answers (4 contributions)
At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters last week, we got a briefing from the Minister's officials, for which we are very grateful, on the concept of the disability Green Paper. Like everything, there are anomalies in the system, some of which relate to household income being taken into account where a person with a disability lives in the house. There is a disregard, and while it is not accounted for in the non-contributory State pension, it is accounted for in the disability allowance. A lot of discussion has to take place in regard to disability. There has been much talk about the fact that when someone who is receiving the disability allowance goes back to work, they lose their secondary benefits. We should encourage people to participate in society and in therapeutic work, where they want to, which is better for them. It is important we have a full discussion on this. I saw-----
I thank the Deputy. I am going to break the rules somewhat and let in Deputy Murnane O'Connor. There will not be a chance for the Deputies to follow up to the Minister's reply because our time is limited.
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I acknowledge the work the Minister is doing, but people coming to my office have told me the disability allowance system has shown them that an illness is nearly starting to cost them money. More than 14,300 people in Carlow were recorded as experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty in census 2022, or 23% of the county's population. That is a huge issue. Moreover, according to the same data, one in five people is unable to work due to a disability and lives in constant poverty. I know the Minister is doing her best but we see this issue daily. We are members of the disability matters committee and we talk and listen to everyone who comes before us. I acknowledge the increase in the disability allowance and I welcome that, but we need to do a lot more.
The Green Paper that I published delivers on the Government's commitment under the roadmap for social inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system. The proposals of the Green Paper are not final; they are intended to invite discussion and debate. We recognise it is well documented that people with disabilities face additional costs and that Ireland's employment rate for people with disabilities is well below the EU average. The question is whether we should keep doing what we are doing and expect a different result or try to improve the system for people with disabilities.
There has been no reform to disability payments for decades. We have a wide range of different schemes, including disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension. Even "invalidity" is a word we should not use in this day and age. There are different rules and regulations across the schemes and there can often be anomalies. Where there are anomalies, people fall between the cracks.
I want to simply the system. There is a genuine aim, which is to try to make things better for people with disabilities. I will be very clear. There is no question of anybody having their payment reduced. My objective is to increase payments, not reduce them. There are a number of public consultations with disability groups. I want to hear their views. We want to come back and see how we can target the resources at those who need them most. The Cost of Disability In Ireland report is the background to the Green Paper. It recommended that the levels of payments and allowances should be changed to reflect the different costs associated with the severity and type of disability. Everybody knows that people on disability payments range across a wide spectrum of capabilities from those that have profound physical and intellectual difficulties and face significant extra costs to those who have less restrictive conditions. This is a difficult and sensitive subject. I understand that. I could put my head in the sand and not deal with it. However, I genuinely want to try to make life better for people and give them more opportunities. It is out for public consultation and I am happy to hear Deputies' views on it. This Green Paper is not in any way set in stone. It is out for discussion. Deputies should feel free to give their views, and I am happy to work with them.
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