I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 32, 42, 47, 55, 57, 59, 65, 69 and 79 together.
The arrangements for the transfer of the disabled person's maintenance allowance scheme from health boards to the Department were completed successfully and with effect from 2 October 1996, the scheme, which is now known as disability allowance, is the responsibility of the Department of Social Welfare.
Regulations made under powers given in the Social Welfare Act, 1996 provided for the introduction of the new scheme of disability allowance. The Act and regulations define the circumstances in which a person is regarded as being eligible for entitlement to the allowance and provide for a number of important improvements in the means test for the allowance. Additional benefits which people were previously entitled to will continue to be payable and the health and welfare services previously provided by health boards will also be available to them.
Recipients of the allowance may earn up to £35.20 per week from employment of a rehabilitative nature without any reduction in their payment. Where a person earns more than £35.20 the allowance is reduced on a pound for pound basis in respect of any earnings in excess of that amount. Persons engaged in rehabilitative employment who retain all or part of their allowance also retain their additional benefits.
The transfer was a very complex process which required the integration into one system of the eight different administrative and computer systems operated by the health boards. As part of the arrangements for the transfer, an information programme was undertaken to ensure that all persons in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance and other interested parties were kept informed of the process and the new arrangements. This programme was effective in ensuring that the transfer took place with the minimum inconvenience to existing recipients.
There has been a higher than expected volume of new applications in the early weeks of the scheme. Additional resources are being applied by the Department to obviate any backlogs or delays that might otherwise arise. For people requiring advice or information there is an information booklet available on the scheme. Any person with a specific query or difficulty can contact their local Social Welfare office or the disability allowance section in the Department's headquarters office in Longford.
A total of 45 staff have been permanently assigned to the administration of the scheme. Of these 36 have been assigned to the scheme headquarters in Longford and nine to the medical control section in Dublin. The staff complement will be reviewed in the light of experience of operating the scheme over the coming months.
A number of issues were raised both by individuals and organisations representing people with disabilities during the course of the transfer discussions. Among these issues were the question of payment of the allowance to persons in the care of institutions on either a full-time or part-time basis and the provision of alternative methods of payment to the standard post office payable order books.
I have improved the arrangements for persons in the care of institutions. Previously in such cases an allowance could only be paid for a maximum of eight weeks in any 12-month period. Under the new regulations such persons will continue to receive disability allowance for up to 13 weeks where they are resident in such institutions. The allowance is not payable in respect of part of a week where a person is normally resident in an institution but I am reviewing the position in this regard in the light of the increasing tendency for such people to come home at weekends.
Payments made under the disabled person's maintenance allowance scheme by the health boards were, in some board areas, made by cheque and in others by books of payable orders. Payment to recipients of disability allowance is made by personalised payable orders cashable at post offices. A person may appoint an agent on his or her behalf to cash the payment if they are unable do so. I intend to provide a wider range of payment options to recipients of the allowance. The option of payment by electronic fund transfer to accounts in banks and other financial institutions will be offered at an early date
The recently published report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities also contained a number of recommendations in relation to payments for people with disabilities and I will be examining these in the context of reviewing the development of the scheme.
I am satisfied that the transfer of the disability allowance scheme to my Department was achieved with the minimum of disruption to existing customers and that the new arrangements will provide a streamlined and efficient service to people with disabilities.