Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When the Minister says “reform of disability payments”, what payments is she including in that? Does it include, for example, the blind pension or the invalidity pension? The publication of the straw man proposal is welcome and important. She said it would happen "shortly." I love the word "shortly". Does that mean this side of 2023 or are we talking about the new year?

There is clearly an issue for people who rely on payments such as disability allowance. The latest data on poverty and deprivation published survey on income and living conditions, SILC, relates to 2021. Across the board, at-risk of poverty, deprivation and consistent poverty are up. Almost 20% of people with a disability are living in consistent poverty in 2022. That is why it is so important that we get these income supports right for this cohort of people.

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