Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

228 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities recommended that a special additional payment be made to reflect the additional costs of a person's disability and that this payment would be made in addition to disability allowance or invalidity pension; if he has assessed the cost of this proposal; the numbers who would benefit; and if he will table this proposal will be considered in the context of the budget. [22610/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The introduction of a costs of disability payment is one of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. The implementation of the commission's recommendations has been under examination by an interdepartmental task force and the costs of disability payment is one of the items under consideration. The task force will issue a progress report in the immediate future.