Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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271. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the results of a survey (details supplied); and his views regarding the effects of cuts in recent years to disability payments, supports and services on the mental health of persons in receipt of disability allowance. [35762/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The overall objective of the 2015 Disability Allowance Survey was to inform the design of supports and interventions which will assist people in receipt of the allowance to participate in the labour force according to their capacity. In doing so, the survey explored the work experience and ambitions of disability allowance (DA) recipients.

The survey found that 13% of DA recipients are currently working (part-time or full-time) while 31% had never worked. 56% of respondents stated they had previously worked (full-time or part-time) but were not currently working. The survey also asked those who are not currently working to give an indication of their employment ambitions given the right supports. Of those who completed this question, 35% expressed an interest in working part time, while 8% expressed an interest in full time employment.

The survey, undertaken as part of my Department’s commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES), also explores disability allowance recipients’ experience and ambitions in four key areas: education level and ambitions; work experience and ambitions; supports which would be helpful to achieve employment ambitions and barriers to achieving employment ambitions. In addition, the survey explores recipients’ self-declared health status. The survey will provide considerable assistance to my Department and the Comprehensive Employment strategy overall in the management and development of supports and services to help persons with disabilities find and maintain employment where this is appropriate and voluntary.

The CSO survey of income and living conditions estimated that payments to people with disabilities reduced the pre-transfer risk of poverty rate from 80% to 15% showing the effectiveness of the social protection system both in terms of its adequacy and coverage. In Budget 2017, I increased the rate of payment for those in receipt of disability and illness related payments by €5 per week, with proportionate increases for qualified adults.