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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

The programme for Government includes a commitment to using the research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy. My Department commissioned Indecon International Economic Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland. The report has now been received by my Department and it is considering it in detail. This matter is significantly wider than the income support system and it is clear that it will not be addressed through income support alone. This is why a whole-of-government perspective is being taken.

The level of engagement with individuals living with disabilities through the survey undertaken and the level of the response from those people provided vital inputs to the research. To Indecon's knowledge, this survey was by far the largest such survey of individuals living with disabilities in Ireland. While this may have delayed the finalisation of the report, the quality of the report is going to be enhanced by the scale of the survey and the subsequent analysis.

Due consideration will have to be given to the findings of the report by the relevant Departments, namely, the Departments of Health, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Public Expenditure and Reform, all of which have a role to play in the delivery of disability services. As a first step, we will be sharing the report with and seeking the views of these Departments. Once this process is complete, I intend to submit the report to the Government. I then intend to host a forum of interested stakeholders to discuss the report and receive inputs on how we might best address issues raised in it. I plan for this to take place in the autumn.

Separately, the supports and services for people with a disability are continually reviewed by my Department. In budget 2021, I introduced several improvements, including an increase of €20 in the earnings disregard for recipients of disability allowance, a €1,000 training grant to help people with disabilities who are seeking employment, and an increase of €150 to the carer's support grant.

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