Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
18. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, further to the recent scrapping of the green paper on disability reform, her plans to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18376/24]
View answerI am committed to improving outcomes for people with a disability. In budget 2024 for example I provided for:
• A €400 once-off payment for Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and Carer’s Support Grant recipients in November 2023 to address the high cost of living.
• A €200 lump sum Living Alone Allowance payment.
• A €300 lump sum Fuel Allowance payment.
• A Christmas Bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment.
• A January Cost of Living Bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment.
• A €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2024.
I also,
• Reduced the minimum weekly hours threshold for employers to avail of the Wage Subsidy Scheme from 21 to 15 hours from April 2024.
• Extended Free Travel to people medically certified as unfit to drive.
These measures were informed by the Indecon Cost of Disability report which highlighted that there is not a single typical ‘cost of disability’; rather there is a spectrum from low additional costs to extremely high extra costs of disability, depending on the individual circumstances of the person concerned. Based on this analysis, one of the main ideas in the Green Paper I published for consultation last year was to provide additional support to those most in need by increasing payments for those people with most profound challenges.However the feedback I received through this consultation process indicates that there are significant concerns about the proposals as set out and, in particular, as to whether it was appropriate to reform the system of disability payments separate to a wider consideration of other challenges faced by people with disabilities including transport, education and access to employment. In addition, although it was acknowledged that disability takes many forms and that the costs of disability vary along a spectrum, people were also concerned as to how, in practice, a distinction would be drawn between people with profound challenges attracting the higher rate of payment and other people with disabilities. I have listened to these concerns and will not therefore proceed to further develop the proposals to a white paper or Government Decision stage.As a Government, we now need to have a fresh look at how we can support people with disabilities. It is for this reason that the Taoiseach has announced the establishment of a special Cabinet Committee on Disability, with a major emphasis on improving supports and services for people with disabilities in all aspects of their lives. Any reform of disability payments will now be considered as part of this broader review of disability matters on a whole-of-government basis and will take account of the feedback received during the Green Paper process. Alongside this new Cabinet Committee, a new National Disability Strategy is being developed. This is being coordinated by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, also with a whole-of-government approach.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
