Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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311. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he plans to address the cost of disability in view of research released by his Department which indicates that persons with disabilities face higher deprivation rates and consistent poverty than the general population, and associated with this, that they and their children are more at risk of experiencing multiple quality of life challenges than any other social group here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36874/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I presume that the Deputy is referring to a recently published research briefing entitled “Social Risk and Social Class Patterns in Poverty and Quality of Life in Ireland, 2004 – 2013” that summarises the findings from a report examining poverty and deprivation trends over the ten-year period 2004 to 2013 for such groups as lone parents, people with a disability and children. The report is an output of the Department of Social Protection’s and the Economic and Social Research Institute’s research programme on monitoring poverty trends.

The briefing states that comprehensive measures such as adequate income support, inclusive labour markets and access to quality services are needed to address the complexity of the challenges facing such vulnerable groups. It adds that previous research has shown that social transfers are effective at reducing poverty in Ireland and that there may be limited scope for further improvement in this area. The briefing does not propose the introduction of a cost of disability or identify it as a measure to address consistent poverty. Rather, the briefing identifies the need for broader integrated actions and interventions such as those outlined in the updated National Action Plan for Social Inclusion.

The primary role of the social protection system centres on providing income support and assistance with taking up employment where this is appropriate; it is not the function of the income support system to address the additional costs associated with a disability. Accordingly, I have no plans to establish a cost of disability payment within the social protection system.

In any event, people with disabilities are not a homogeneous group and as such would have widely differing needs with the result that the extra costs of disability would not therefore arise to the same extent in all cases. There is no single comprehensive payment available in respect of the additional costs of disability. However, some of these additional costs are addressed across schemes provided by a number of agencies such as the health service and also the Revenue Commissioners through certain tax reliefs and other supports.

I hope that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.