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

The Green Paper that I published delivers on the Government's commitment under the roadmap for social inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system. The proposals of the Green Paper are not final; they are intended to invite discussion and debate. We recognise it is well documented that people with disabilities face additional costs and that Ireland's employment rate for people with disabilities is well below the EU average. The question is whether we should keep doing what we are doing and expect a different result or try to improve the system for people with disabilities.

There has been no reform to disability payments for decades. We have a wide range of different schemes, including disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension. Even "invalidity" is a word we should not use in this day and age. There are different rules and regulations across the schemes and there can often be anomalies. Where there are anomalies, people fall between the cracks.

I want to simply the system. There is a genuine aim, which is to try to make things better for people with disabilities. I will be very clear. There is no question of anybody having their payment reduced. My objective is to increase payments, not reduce them. There are a number of public consultations with disability groups. I want to hear their views. We want to come back and see how we can target the resources at those who need them most. The Cost of Disability In Ireland report is the background to the Green Paper. It recommended that the levels of payments and allowances should be changed to reflect the different costs associated with the severity and type of disability. Everybody knows that people on disability payments range across a wide spectrum of capabilities from those that have profound physical and intellectual difficulties and face significant extra costs to those who have less restrictive conditions. This is a difficult and sensitive subject. I understand that. I could put my head in the sand and not deal with it. However, I genuinely want to try to make life better for people and give them more opportunities. It is out for public consultation and I am happy to hear Deputies' views on it. This Green Paper is not in any way set in stone. It is out for discussion. Deputies should feel free to give their views, and I am happy to work with them.

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