Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if consideration is being given to increasing disability allowance payments for participants of the national network learning scheme in view of the fact that the participants receive only €31.80 per five day week for a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14397/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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A person in receipt of Disability Allowance who engages in employment or training of a rehabilitative nature, such as those participating in the National Learning Network Scheme, may avail of a disregard of the first €120 per week of their income for the purpose of assessment of means for the Disability Allowance scheme. Prior to June last year, once a person exceeded earnings of €120 per week, payment of their Disability Allowance was withdrawn on a euro for euro basis.

In order to improve the employment incentives for people of working age and, as part of the Social Welfare Budget package, 2006, I introduced a new withdrawal rate of Disability Allowance, effective from 1 June 2006. This change means that, for earnings above €120 and under €350 per week, Disability Allowance is now withdrawn at 50 cents for every euro earned, rather than the previous euro for euro withdrawal. In practice, this means that a single person can earn up to €420 per week before their Disability Allowance fully ceases, compared with the previous amount of €240 per week. For those participating in the National Learning Network scheme with income as indicated of €159 per week, this means that the first €120 of this income is completely disregarded and only 50% of the remaining €39 is assessable as means.

The policy in relation to supporting employment incentives for people with disabilities will continue to be kept under review in my Department and any further changes will be considered within the wider budgetary context.