Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. She provided a bit more insight there. Perhaps she can provide more as we proceed. There is no doubt but that the challenges faced by people with disabilities are enormous. The survey on income and living conditions includes a category of people who are unable to work due to long-standing health problems. This cohort substantially consists of disabled people. One in five of that group is living in consistent poverty, compared with 5.3% in the general population. One in three is at risk of poverty, compared with 13.1% in the general population. The group has one of the lowest rates of disposable income, at approximately €18,000. As the Minister outlined, there are many additional costs, including for matters that may not previously have been accounted for, such as mobility aids and so on, but there is also the simple cost of being able to operate in society. There is the cost of socialising and that of accessing education when it is much further away than it is for other people. Similarly, there is the cost of employment and other things. The Minister stated that she hopes to publish the report shortly. Will the further consultation with stakeholders take place before or after its publication?

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