Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reversing the decision to cut the disabled sheltered allowance which was cut from €31.80 per week to €20.00 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37767/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The decision to reduce the top up payment made to people with a disability attending rehabilitative training was implemented by the Health Service Executive (HSE) without informing the Department of Health. e reduction from €31.80 per week to €20 per week, from the 1st January 2012, was communicated to the HSE Local Managers in advance of the Minister approving the National Service Plan for 2012. I subsequently requested the Executive not to proceed with this reduction pending a fuller consideration of the effects and consequences of this measure.

This measure was proposed in order to restore equity between the top-up bonus paid to people attending the HSE-funded rehabilitative training schemes following a reduction in a similar payment to students, including those with disabilities, attending FÁS/SOLAS training schemes. e proposed reduction remains under consideration in the context of the 2013 estimates. Any reduction in payments to individuals requires adequate advance notice to enable the recipients and indeed, service providers, to take the reduction into account in planning their support needs and other arrangements. It should also be noted that people with a disability attending Rehabilitative Training are usually in receipt of a State payment such as the Disability Allowance.