David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the yearly expenditure to date on the National Disability Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39274/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Disability Sectoral Plan, published in 2006 in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Act 2005 and in line with the National Disability Strategy and Towards 2016, aims to develop services that not only give people with disabilities financial security but also encourage their maximum participation in society.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs has a pivotal role in providing income support for people with disabilities who may not be in a position to provide for themselves. In 2006, spending on income support, to some 248,000 recipients of disability or caring related social welfare schemes, was in excess of €2.38 billion. In 2007 disability expenditure of €2.62 billion benefited some 246,000 recipients while in 2008, 264,000 recipients were supported by a disability spend of €2.8 billion. Over €3 billion is being provided in Disability expenditure for 2009. In addition, people with disabilities may also benefit from other schemes such as state pensions.

I, with the support of my Government colleagues, am committed to continuing to prioritise the needs of people with disabilities and their carers over the term of this Government. The Agreed Programme for Government reiterates that the National Disability Strategy will be driven and managed from a whole of Government perspective and is overseen and supported by the Department of the Taoiseach.