Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

84. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will update the Dáil on the work his Department has carried out in designing a cost of disability payment, as outlined in the programme for Government; the expected date of introduction of such a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21989/25]

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Minister update the House on the work his Department has carried out to date on designing a cost of disability payment, as outlined in the programme for Government, the expected date of such a payment and the amount involved?

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government recognises the additional costs associated with having a disability and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. In the programme for Government, we are committed to introducing a permanent annual cost of disability support payment. These commitments will build on progress made in recent years where we have taken steps to recognise the additional costs associated with having a disability. As part of last year's budget, significant supports for people with disabilities were introduced, including: an October 2024 cost-of-living bonus for people in receipt of a long-term weekly social welfare payment; a €400 cost-of-living lump sum payment for people in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension or blind pension in November 2024; a €200 cost-of-living lump sum payment to people who are getting a living alone allowance in November 2024; and a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2025.

The Indecon report on the cost of disability, commissioned and funded by my Department, found that the extra costs of disability are due to factors including higher costs of healthcare, transport, education and other services that arise because of a higher level of dependence on these services by people with disabilities. The report noted that addressing these costs was not simply a matter of a higher welfare payment but would need to incorporate improvements in services. This report recommended that any additional public expenditure should be targeted on areas where high potential costs are creating hardship, rather than spreading resources thinly.

An Taoiseach is chairing a Cabinet committee on disability with a view to driving and monitoring progress on implementing all programme for Government commitments in this area. As part of this work, my Department is examining the best way of delivering an annual cost-of-disability payment within the overall budgetary context. The Deputy can be assured this is a matter I intend to progress during my term in the Department.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of the work of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism, we had a number of presentations on the cost of disability to families. One of the most recent reports I have seen shows there is an additional €30,000 per annum cost for a family with a disability or a loved one with a disability. That is obviously substantial and causes hardship. A lot of that hardship is ongoing. The Minister mentioned temporary payments in the context of how they mask what is really going on behind the doors of those families who are scraping to get by to pay for their loved ones, heating and everything else they must pay. Can the Minister provide a timeframe? While he said he would commit to this throughout the lifetime of this Government, can we get some more dates as to when we can actually see a cost of that?

The services he mentioned are very important for families. If they do not get the additional payments, which we are being told will not come in the next budget, we are going to see a lot of families scraping by. They will be in a lot of trouble come the winter months in particular with the cost of disability as it stands at the moment.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I do not have a specific timeline yet but we are working on it. There are a number of different reports on the cost of disability, which have widely varying figures. One of the first things I am trying to do is address and come up with a figure that actually reflects the reality of it. When we have a figure we can work on, we will look at a timeline.

From next week, applications for domiciliary care allowance can be made online, which is a small but important change that gives people the chance to avail of that option. I am absolutely focused on this space in order that we can do it in a way that reflects not just the cost but also the pressures that people with a disability and their families are under at this time and in a way that treats them with respect and dignity. It is something we will examine, working through the Cabinet committee on disability, which meets monthly, to come up with a timeline on it.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister. Reference has been made to the work programme for the social protection committee. I am sure, along with others in the House, that this is something that we would love to have included in the work programme. It is very important for many people when they are looking at an additional €30,000 that they have to scrape for to find. This is a substantial amount. This is an average that has been outlined in one of the most recent reports that I have seen. I look forward to engaging with the Minister at the social protection committee on this topic. It is important that it forms an early part of our discussions on the work programme. Too many people are suffering from a lack of supports, particularly now, when we have heard the kite flying from Ministers that there will be no more temporary payments come the budget next year. There are a lot of worried families. We can do some good work on the social protection committee by trying to come up with some solutions for those families.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will work closely with the committee. It has always been a very collegial committee and has the interests of those with disabilities at heart. I am determined to work with the committee to come up with solutions and reforms. This applies not just to social protection but across services as well. We have a lot of work under way in this space and I hope that by the time we come to the end of our term in government that there will be a lot of positive change in this space.