Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which it is possible to address any issues arising for those with special needs and-or respite requirements in the context of budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39849/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In framing budgetary adjustments over the past number of years, the primary concern of Government has been to protect primary social welfare rates including disability payments, pensions and carer’s allowance. Budget 2015 fully protects all existing schemes and supports and will provide for an estimated expenditure of €3.39 billion on the illness, disability & carers programme. This represents 17.5% of total Departmental expenditure in 2015.Budget 2015 provides for a range of targeted increases to assist families and other vulnerable groups. Pensioners and people with disabilities who are living alone will have their living alone allowance increased to €9 per week from January or a total of €468 over the course of the year. Some 177,500 people will benefit from this increase, including around 33,400 in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement or blind pension. This payment was last increased in 1996. Budget 2015 will also provide for a partial restoration of the Christmas bonus, which will see 25% of the rate of the weekly payment being paid to all long-term welfare recipients in early December 2014. The bonus is being paid in recognition of the position of vulnerable households at this time of year and in light of the costs associated with this period. Consequently, the bonus payment is targeted at those who rely wholly or mainly on their social welfare payment for financial support, including those in receipt of carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit, disability allowance, invalidity pension and the blind pension.

People with disabilities and carers who receiving a household benefits package or fuel allowance will also benefit from the introduction of water support payment. The value of this payment is €100 a year and will be paid at a rate of €25 every three months. There will be some 653,000 beneficiaries, including some 73,600 people with disabilities and 31,950 carers.

Over the last three Budgets the Government has succeeded in protecting basic social welfare rates and this year’s Budget provides for a range of targeted increases to assist people with disabilities, carers and other vulnerable groups.