Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. On 7 December we published a report on the cost of disability carried out by Indecon. I brought the report to Cabinet. We have referred it to the national disability inclusion strategy steering group, which is chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. This group is responsible for monitoring the key framework for policy and action to address the needs of people with disabilities in Ireland. The group will consider the actions and what the Government needs to do. This needs to be across government. We also need to look at other issues such as housing, health, education and transport costs. There are a number of areas. It is clear we have to find the right response to all of the issues. The report that Indecon has prepared is very comprehensive. It looked at all of the aspects of disability.

The Deputy is right when he says that at present there is a flat-rate disability payment of €280 regardless of whether people have a mild, moderate or profound disability. From a social protection perspective, one of the recommendations in the report is a payment linked to disability. Some people with a mild disability could do some work. Other people who have a profound disability cannot work. We need to look at issues such as whether the payment should be graduated.

Good work is being done on trying to help people with disabilities to get into the workforce. We have the Ability programme, which is EU funded. It was due to end last year. I met those involved in the programme and heard first-hand from them the very good work they do on the ground in helping younger and older people have an opportunity to make a contribution to society in many different ways and get back into work in whatever form or career they want to pursue. We were able to allocate money from the Dormant Accounts Fund to keep the programme going. It really is a good programme. We also have EmployAbility in the Department. It helps people with one-to-one contact and connection between an employer and employee. It works very well.

I take the Deputy's point. I am on the same page as him. The Government and the Cabinet are committed to dealing with this issue to improve the situation of those with disabilities. This is particularly with regard to cases such as the one the Deputy spoke about, where parents have children with profound disabilities. It is a very difficult place for people to find themselves. I thank the Deputy for the question.