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

The background to the Green Paper is the The Cost of Disability in Ireland report, which was produced after extensive consultation. It was probably the biggest consultation on any report carried out by the State. We extended it a few times because people wanted more consultation. It is recommended that the levels of payment and allowances should be changed to reflect the very different costs associated with the severity and the type of disability. As the Deputy will understand, people on disability payments range across a wide spectrum of capabilities from those who have very profound physical and intellectual disabilities and who face significant extra costs to those who have less restrictive conditions. The current system of payments does not reflect this; instead, it takes a one-size-fits-all approach. That is why the The Cost of Disability in Ireland report proposed that while we should recognise and acknowledge all forms of disability, we should also differentiate our payments and target any extra resources at those people who need it.

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