Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the practical schemes to assist people with disabilities living in poverty and hardship. [37105/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a number of schemes which provide income support for people with disability or illness: disability benefit which is a payment made to insured people who are unable to work due to illness; invalidity pension which is paid to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy contribution conditions; disability allowance, a means-tested payment, which is paid to people with a disability who are substantially handicapped in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications; blind pension, also a means-tested payment, payable to persons who are blind or with low vision; and a number of payments under the occupational injuries scheme for people who are unable to work due to an accident at work or a disease contracted due to the type of work undertaken. These payments include injury benefit, disablement benefit, medical care and unemployability supplement.

In addition to these primary payments, extra benefits may also be payable, depending on a person's circumstances and these include the free travel pass; fuel allowance; household benefits package; assistance under the supplementary welfare scheme and medical card, from the Health Service Executive.

Facilitating return to work or participation in the active labour force is one of the main objectives of the social welfare system. There are a number of specific employment and training incentives available within the system to encourage and facilitate people with illness and disability to take up available work or training options. These include exemptions from the general "no work" conditions of the disability benefit and invalidity pension schemes to facilitate people to undertake employment of a rehabilitative nature and income disregards on the means-tested payments.

Access to the back to work allowance scheme, designed to assist people to return to employment, is also available, subject to certain conditions, to people in receipt of disability benefit, invalidity pension, disability allowance, blind pension and unemployability supplement. This is a weekly payment which allows people to take up approved employment while retaining a percentage of their social welfare payment for three years, four years in the case of self-employment, and to retain any secondary benefits to which they have been entitled for that period.

Access to the back to education scheme, subject to qualifying conditions, is similarly available for people in receipt of the aforementioned schemes. This is an allowance paid at a standard rate, for the duration of the educational course which the person undertakes, at either second or third level. Any secondary benefits to which the person had entitlement are also retained for the duration of the payment. In addition, an annual cost of education allowance is payable at the commencement of each academic year to assist with the purchase of books and other relevant materials. It is clear that the barriers faced by people with disabilities and indeed other groups who are vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion are multifaceted and require a multi-agency response. The national action plan against poverty and social exclusion 2003-2005, sets out the framework for the Government's response to these problems. The current plan sets out the range of policies and programmes, such as income and employment supports, health and education, which are being undertaken by relevant Departments aimed at reducing or eliminating poverty and social exclusion.

The national action plan specifically targets people with disabilities as one of a number of groups who are particularly vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion, the overall aim being to increase their participation in work and society generally and to assist them and their families to lead full and independent lives. The plan details specific targets and actions which include: rehabilitative training provision and skills development; increased participation in third level education; specific employment supports for people with disabilities and employers; access to health care; and care of people with disabilities.

The office for social inclusion, OSI, which is based in my Department, has overall responsibility for developing, co-ordinating and driving the national action plan. Consultation seminars are currently being held around the country on the development of the new national action plan, 2006-2008, offering an opportunity to obtain views and feedback at regional level specifically on the priorities set for each region.

This Government remains committed to continuing efforts to alleviate poverty, especially for those who have not been in a position to benefit from the employment opportunities afforded by higher economic growth.

During the period 2001 to 2005, there were substantial real increases in social welfare rates, with the lowest rates increasing by 40% while the consumer price index increased by just over13%. As a result of budget 2005, social welfare payments have increased by three times the expected rate of inflation. It is Government policy to increase the rates of social welfare payments over the period to 2007 and this commitment will be delivered. This will benefit all social welfare recipients, including those in receipt of disability payments.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the funding a person in need of clothing can obtain under the clothing allowance scheme as operated by the CWO on behalf of his Department; his plans to increase the allowance; if he will publish the guidelines attached to obtaining the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37120/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no specific clothing assistance scheme for adults, though there is a back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance scheme administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, HSE, in respect of school-going children. In general, people are expected to meet normal clothing and footwear requirements as they arise from their household income.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is also administered by the HSE, provides for an exceptional needs payment to be made to assist with essential, once-off costs which the applicant is unable to meet from his-her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the executive based on the particular circumstances of the case.