Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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65. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter (details supplied) regarding payment rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29483/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Blind pension is a social assistance payment which is paid to blind and visually impaired people. In 2015, over €14 million will be spent on these payments. The rate of the blind pension is the same as other social assistance payments, such as disability allowance, jobseeker’s allowance and one-parent family payment.

Invalidity pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and are covered by social insurance (PRSI). To get invalidity pension, among other eligibility criteria, a recipient must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance.

The appropriate rates of welfare supports in the year ahead will be considered by Government as part of its deliberations on the next Budget.