Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the cuts made to the national network service in 2013 and 2014, a service which offered many persons with disabilities the opportunity to re-skill and receive extra payment for doing so, the options available to a person who is forced to be on the invalidity pension to gain extra income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20077/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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While it is not clear to what "national network" service the Deputy is referring, the position is that a person in receipt of invalidity pension can apply for partial capacity benefit (PCB), which allows a person with a disability, who has a reduced capacity to work, to take up employment (or become self-employed) and continue to receive a social welfare income support payment.

To qualify for PCB, a person on invalidity pension must receive written approval to work from the Department but there is no restriction on a person’s earnings or on the number of hours he/she can work.

I introduced this scheme in 2012 to acknowledge the fact that some people on invalidity pension (and illness benefit) would have a residual capacity for employment and might wish to pursue options in this area, while still retaining a degree of social welfare income support.