Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is important to set out the facts. The budget reform being brought about here in a range of areas is certainly not easy. As the Deputy pointed out, the choices that are left to Government are unpalatable from every perspective. In this budget for 2012, the reform in question does not affect anybody between the ages of 16 and 24 years of age who is currently on disability allowance. This measure only affects new claimants. Those 15 year olds and under who are on domiciliary care allowance currently, will now continue to get that payment until they are 18. Deputy Martin will appreciate that currently, a domiciliary allowance is paid to the parents of a child with a disability until the child is 16 and the child then goes on disability allowance in his or her own right. Evidence and contact with parents shows that they would prefer that this would remain as a domiciliary allowance until the child reaches the age of 18, and that is what is happening under the reform proposed by the Minister.

When current 15 year olds for whom domiciliary allowances are being paid reach the age of 18, they will be entitled to disability allowance at the same rate as the jobseeker's allowance. That measure will bring eligibility conditions for disability allowance into line with all other primary, weekly welfare payments which are payable at the age of 18 only. This measure was introduced in the 2009 budget, but was subsequently withdrawn on the basis that the issue would be revisited in the review of the disability allowance scheme which was then under way. That review confirmed the view that payment of a full rate payment at age 16 was inappropriate and that measures should be introduced to change that.

The Deputy may have some ideas about this, but the Government and the Minister for Social Protection now have two years to put in place a structure which will recognise that persons with disability should not be sidelined in some laneway in terms of society, as if they could not make a contribution. Any of the persons with disability I meet want to be seen as mainstream people with a contribution to make, irrespective of the degree of their disability. The Government and the Minister for Social Protection now have the challenge to put in place a structure which, when those young people who are currently 15 reach the age of 18 and beyond, will provide activation measures and encourage them to play their part and make a contribution to the best of their ability. However, the situation remains the same for those who are currently 18. This reform affects new claimants, those currently under the age of 16.

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