Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
299. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2022 and in a full year of a €20 per week increase in the basic rate of disability allowance with a proportionate increase for qualified adults and no proportionate increase for qualified adults. [35683/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
The estimated annual expenditure on DA for 2021 is some €1.83 billion. The estimated cost of increasing the weekly personal rate of DA by €20 would be an additional €171.1 million. This estimate includes a proportionate increase for qualified adults (QA). With no proportionate QA increase the cost would be an estimated €160 million.
My Department regularly reviews its supports and payment schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. Given the cost implications, any changes to the current payment rates would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
