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

I engaged extensively with the disability organisations, which involved many meetings. I will continue to do that. As part of budget 2024, I introduced significant supports for people with disabilities, including a €400 once-off payment for disability allowance, blind pension, invalidity pension and carer's support grant recipients in November 2023 to address the high cost of living, a €200 lump-sum living allowance payment, a €300 lump-sum fuel allowance, a Christmas bonus and a double payment to all persons in receipt of a long-term disability payment. There was also the January cost-of-living bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, as well as a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments. In April 2024, I reduced the minimum weekly hours threshold, from 21 to 15 hours, for employers to avail of the wage subsidy scheme. I also extended free travel to people medically certified as unfit to drive. That was an issue Deputy Aindrias Moynihan pursued aggressively. He was after me about it all the time. It started off with people who have epilepsy and it was very much welcomed. I worked on it with the epilepsy groups and it benefited others as well. It is a good measure and I am glad it is in place.

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