Mary Moran (Labour)

I also welcome the Minister and thank her for coming into the Seanad today. Before I start, I would like to pick up on the point raised by Senator Mooney, where he talked about the mother in Newry, where the cost of living is lower. As a mother who lives in Dundalk, relative costs are not so different and many mothers from Newry often travel to enjoy the facilities, including socialising and filling their cars with petrol.

I commend the Minister on her brave decision to re-examine the proposed changes to the disability allowance for young people until the commission on social welfare and taxation has published its report. Can the Minister give us a timeframe for that review?

Since the budget announcements last week, I have been inundated with calls, emails and letters from disability groups, parents and individuals who would have been grossly affected by any cuts to the allowance. Last night I met representatives from the Irish Wheelchair Association and SNAP, which is short for "Special Needs, Active Parents", a very active group in the Louth-Meath and Cavan-Monaghan areas. I was delighted to meet them and to listen to their concerns. I hope to discuss them in detail with the Minister.

I fully appreciate, as the Minister pointed out last week, that the proposed changes would have affected people under 16 and not those who are already in receipt of disability allowance. I urge the Minister, however, to communicate as part of this review and to consult not only with disability groups but with parents and those who are the coal face of living with those with a disability. Parents and families are the main voice for those with a disability.

As a parent and as Seanad spokesman on disability, after the announcements last week, I immediately raised my concerns on the proposed cuts with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Social Protection and I was delighted with the quick response there was to my concerns and at the cross-party response to the proposed changes.

While I am aware there are huge problems with entitlements in the social welfare system, I urge the Minister to protect the most vulnerable in society. She has said that is her intention, because these people are the most vulnerable.

The problem is that a person must understand disability before making far-reaching decisions on it. It is impossible to put all people with a disability into the one box; there cannot be one rule for everyone, just as we do not have the same rules for those who do not have the misfortune to suffer from a disability. It has been said here today that those on disability allowance may suffer from a condition that will not encroach on their full independence or ability to find some sort of employment but we cannot compare those people with those who have a severe physical or mental disability who will never be fortunate or capable enough to have any sort of employment or independence.

The present rate of €188 per week does not even come close to the actual day to day living costs for a person who is over 18 who might need 24 hour supervision and care. Although I hate to say it, people must pay for baby-sitting, physio and occupational therapy, swimming and perhaps the Special Olympics. These all cost a lot more than €188. Private psychological assessments cost between €500 and €700. These are not privileges and should be in place for those who need them most.

We must take stock of the true meaning of disability and rethink the way disability allowances are allocated, making sure the most vulnerable and needy are looked after as a priority.