Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an cheist. The Indecon report on the cost of disability, commissioned and funded by my Department, found that the extra costs of disability are due to a number of factors, including higher costs of healthcare, transport, education, housing and other services that arise because of a higher level of dependence on these services by people with disabilities. In that context, the report noted that addressing these costs was not simply a matter of a higher welfare payment but would need to incorporate improvements in the delivery of and access to these services and others.

The Government, under the Minister, Deputy Foley, has prioritised the development of a new national disability strategy, a cross-governmental strategy that will have a focus on improving access to services and bringing down the extra costs I referred to. Alongside this, in the programme for Government, we have committed to introducing a permanent annual cost of disability support payment. That annual cost of disability support payment will build on progress made over the last number of years, where we took steps to recognise the additional costs associated with disability. In the last three budgets, we brought forward an extensive range of cost-of-living support measures to support people with disabilities and their families. Building on that, progress my Department will now lead on the introduction of an annual cost-of-disability payment, as committed to in the programme for Government. We are currently examining the best way of delivering on this commitment within the overall budgetary context. The Deputy can be assured that we will prioritise this payment in budget discussions with our colleague, the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Jack Chambers.

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