Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on her plans regarding recognising the additional cost of disability; the way that she intends to ensure that this additional cost is reflected within the social protection system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50415/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2021 Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run across a number of areas of expenditure including housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses.

It is very clear that the findings in the research have implications for many areas of public policy and responses should be based on a multifaceted approach to include increased cash payments, enhanced access to services and specific targeted grant programmes.

Furthermore, Indecon found that there is not a single typical cost of disability; rather, there is a spectrum from low to high additional costs of disability, depending on individual circumstances.

The Government referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, which is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability. This group comprises of relevant departments, agencies, a Disability Stakeholder Group and people with disabilities. The group considers and monitors recommended actions required by the various Government Departments on foot of the report.

A number of the measures I introduced as part of Budget 2023 in support of people with disabilities will assist in alleviating the cost of disability:

- A Cost of Living Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments in October.

The following payments will be made in November:

- €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant will be paid to all people receiving a long-term Disability Payment;

- €500 Cost of Living Payment for people receiving the Carer’s Support Grant;

- €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance;

- €200 Lump Sum Payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance;

- Double Payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children.

In addition:

- A Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including Pensioners, Carers and People with Disabilities in December.

In January 2023, the following measures will be implemented:

- a €12 increase in weekly payments with proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people who receive a reduced rate;

- The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165;

- The Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200;

- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance;

- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month;

- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth;

- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.

The Indecon report particularly identified the importance of supporting the employment of disabled people. To assist with this, in addition to the increases to the earning disregards, Budget 2023 included two other important measures:

- €1m funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants. These grants support the employment of disabled people in the private sector. Following a public consultation, conducted earlier this year, the department will bring forward reform proposals before the end of the year.

- Changes to the Jobs plus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers in employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the disability allowance or Blind pension can now benefit from the scheme.

A planned review of the departments Wage Subsidy Scheme, which provides financial incentives to encourage private sector employers to employ Jobseekers with disabilities, will also commence in the coming weeks, through a public consultation process.

In the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and Pathways to Work strategies, my Department has committed to developing and consulting on a strawman proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. The main objectives are to simplify the system, remove anomalies, recognise the continuum of disabilities and to support employment. The Cost of Disability research report will feed into the preparation of these reform proposals. Work is underway by officials on the ‘strawman’ with a public consultation to commence in due course.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.