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Departmental Reports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Ceisteanna (67, 77)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

67. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the implementation of the making work pay recommendations. [8442/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

77. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the implementation of the making work pay recommendations. [8443/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 77 together.

The Make Work Pay (MWP) report was published on 6th April 2017, following the deliberations of an interdepartmental group established under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. The interdepartmental group considered a range of approaches across relevant Departments to deliver on this commitment and made 24 recommendations under the broad headings of: reconfiguring the system of supports to ensure that work pays; promoting early intervention; communicating effectively that work pays and future proofing.

The report contains a number of recommendations covering a range of Government departments. A number of the report’s recommendations related to my Department’s responsibilities have already been implemented namely:

- People with a long-term disability payment who move off the payment to get a job will retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years (the report recommended retention for 3 years).

- A fast–track return to Disability Allowance for people where employment does not work out.

Furthermore, a number of other actions are the subject of ongoing work:

- Development work is being undertaken on a new “Ready Reckoner”, to calculate the net benefits and financial implications of working for people on a disability type payment.

- Persons with disabilities may, on a voluntary basis, make an appointment with a case officer to explore their options and develop a personal progression plan. Strengthening the capacity of the Department’s Intreo service to support people with disabilities to get and maintain employment is an ongoing activity.

- Amending legislation dispensing with the requirement for disability allowance, blind pension and rent supplement under supplementary welfare allowance, that work must be of a rehabilitative nature has been included in the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registrations Bill 2017.

On the publication of the MWP report, the Government gave a clear commitment to consult widely in relation to a number of recommendations. This has led to initial consultation with the Department’s Disability Stakeholders Group followed by the procurement of an independent facilitator and the holding of a number of facilitated focus groups. Following this, the DEASP will now engage in an extensive consultation process in the first quarter of 2018 with people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and sectoral representatives, in relation to early engagement with people with disabilities on the recommendations 9 and 10 of the MWP report.

While the Government has decided to implement some of the recommendations, others require further consultation with disability service providers and other stakeholders. These include developing and extending interdepartmental and interagency protocols, including protocols with the range of State funded disability service providers; developing a proactive communications/information strategy; and future proofing to ensure that the recommendations are reviewed on a regular basis.

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