I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 250 together.
The estimated savings arising from the measures relating to disability allowance announced in Budget 2012 is €7 million in 2012. Those measures would have affected people aged up to and including 24 years of age — they would not have affected recipients aged 25 years or older.
I have provided a table which sets out the number of 16 to 25 year olds in receipt of disability allowance, broken down by age and gender as of the end of November 2011. There were 13,802 recipients aged up to and including 25 years of age and a further 88,872 aged 26 years or more, bringing the overall total to 102,674. The estimated total spend on this scheme in 2011 is €1,066m.
The annual cost to the exchequer of a specific age group within a scheme is not collated by my Department.
Number of 16 to 25 year olds in receipt of Disability Allowance
Age
|
Male
|
Female
|
Total
|
16
|
395
|
247
|
642
|
17
|
700
|
382
|
1,082
|
18
|
798
|
482
|
1,280
|
19
|
857
|
527
|
1,384
|
20
|
915
|
586
|
1,501
|
21
|
942
|
567
|
1,509
|
22
|
871
|
596
|
1,467
|
23
|
862
|
659
|
1,521
|
24
|
903
|
628
|
1,531
|
25
|
1020
|
865
|
1,885
|
Total
|
8,263
|
5,539
|
13,802
|