Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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265. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide assurance that there will be no cuts to benefits for those who suffer from blindness in next year's budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26641/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to maintain weekly rates of welfare payments. In line with this commitment, the weekly personal rate of blind pension, including increases for qualified adults and children, has been fully maintained since this Government came into office. Recipients of blind pension are automatically eligible for free travel, and a companion free travel pass and may also be eligible, subject to satisfying the relevant conditions, for the fuel allowance, electricity/gas allowance, free television licence and the living alone allowance. Recipients of the blind pension may also be awarded the blind welfare allowance paid by the HSE.

The Budget will not be announced until October and it is far too early to signal what adjustments in expenditure and taxation will be necessary in order to achieve the Government’s deficit target. However, the Government continues to be committed to protecting core weekly rates of welfare payments, something we have successfully done over the last three years.