Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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45. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she shares the views of the Ombudsman for Children, that services and welfare entitlements for persons with disabilities should be ring-fenced and protected by future Government regardless of the economic climate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39523/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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While services for people with disabilities are the responsibility of the Department of Health and the HSE, in relation to income supports for people with disabilities, in framing budgetary adjustments over the past number of years, the primary concern of the Department has been to protect primary social welfare rates including disability payments, pensions and carer’s allowance, and this policy approach has been maintained in this budget.

I should point out for information that expenditure on the Illness, Disability & Carers programme is estimated to be €3.33 billionin 2014 which represents 17.0%of total Departmental expenditure (Vote & SIF).