Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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123. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the entitlement under the blind person's pension which was reduced dramatically a number of years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18752/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Blind Pension is a means-tested payment for blind people and certain people with low vision operated by my Department. Some €14 million has been allocated for the scheme this year, which has over 1,300 recipients.

Budgets 2010 and 2011 reduced the weekly rate of payment for all working age schemes, including the Blind Pension. In this regard, the weekly personal rate for Blind Pension decreased by €16.30 per week, from €204.30 to €188 per week. Furthermore, the Christmas Bonus was abolished in 2009.

Blind Pension recipients who live alone are eligible for the living alone allowance. Budget 2015 increased the living alone allowance from €7.70 to €9 per week. In addition, the Christmas Bonus was partially restored in December 2014, with a 25% bonus payment to over 1.2 million social welfare recipients, including those in receipt of Blind Pension. The Bonus was increased to 75% payment in December 2015.

The appropriate rates of welfare supports for working age people will be considered by the Government in the context of the forthcoming Budget. In this regard, the Programme for Government contains a number of significant commitments to enhance the welfare system in the years ahead, including support for an increase in the rate of Blind Pension. I want to make progress on these commitments in the forthcoming Budget. I look forward to engagement and input from my colleagues in the Oireachtas in the matter.