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Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

Ceisteanna (84)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

84. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who are in receipt of the blind pension; her Department’s work in this area to support persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24382/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Blind Pension is a means-tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people who are habitually resident in Ireland. Eligibility for Blind Pension requires that a person’s vision is impaired to such an extent that they cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue in their ordinary occupation. When awarded a Blind Pension a person automatically gets a Free Travel Pass and Companion Free Travel Pass. Recipients of Blind Pension may be entitled to the Living Alone Allowance and the Household Benefits Package from my Department as well as the Blind Welfare Allowance paid by the Health Service Executive.

The number of recipients on Blind Pension as of April was 1,026. There has been a steady decline in the numbers receiving Blind Pension over the last number of years. In 2015, there were 1,341 recipients of Blind Pension, this represents a reduction of almost 23.5%.

In Budget 2022 a number of measures were introduced to support people with disabilities:

- An increase of €5 across core social welfare payments,

- Increase to the upper earnings disregard limit for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension by €25 per week, from €350 to €375 per week,

- Increase in the rate paid under Wage Subsidy Scheme to private sector employers of €1 per hour, bringing it to the equivalent of 60% of the National Minimum Wage,

- Extension of three grants, currently available through Intreo centres, to EmployAbility contractors in 2022, these are:

- Job Interview Interpreter Grant

- Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant

- Personal Reader Grant

- Increase to the general weekly means disregard for Disability Allowance to €7.60,

- Extension to Blind Pension of the means test disregard for PhD scholarship income,

- Increase to the Fuel Allowance of €5 to €33 per week,

- Increase to the Living Alone Allowance of €3, from €19 to €22 per week.

In addition to this my Department also provides employment-related supports for people with disabilities throughout the country.I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 85 answered with Question No. 80.
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