Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the deprivation rate for persons with a disability here; how this compares with the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10722/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), disability is based on the concept of global activity limitation. This is defined as a “limitation in activities people usually do because of health problems for at least the past six months”. The latest EU-SILC data available shows that severe material deprivation for people (aged 16 years and over) who are limited in their normal activities due to a health problem was 15% in Ireland in 2014, as compared to the EU average of 12.1%. Ireland ranks 18th of the 28 member states.

EUROSTAT has not, as yet, published comparable data across the Member States for 2015. The recently published SILC report from CSO for 2015 showed a slight increase over the year in “basic deprivation” (a broader definition than the EU's “severe deprivation” measure) from 51.3% to 53.2% for people in households headed by a disabled person. However, these figures (like other statistics for very small groups in the survey) have been volatile in recent years. This is due to smaller sample sizes. It is not possible to say with certainty whether the changes over the year are statistically significant and indicative of a sustained trend.

Given the continuing economic recovery throughout 2015 and measures introduced in the Budgets since 2015, it is reasonable to expect future figures to show improvements. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to ensure that the economic recovery is experienced in all regions and by all families, households and individuals.

The Government’s strategy for addressing poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Plan identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. The Department will review the Plan this year, as it reaches the end of its current term, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. The Department will also review the national social target for poverty reduction. This review will be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The Government is committed to increasing the employment opportunities for people with a disability. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities adopts a cross-government approach that brings together various measures, to be taken by different Departments and State agencies, in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on the employment of people with disabilities. The six strategic priorities are to: build skills, capacity and independence; provide bridges and supports into work; make work pay; promote job retention and re-entry into work; provide co-ordinated and seamless support; and engage employers. These priorities are incorporated into the Pathways to Work Strategy and this ensures that there is an integrated focus on supports that enable people with disabilities to participate in employment where they have the capacity to do so.

My Department provides a range of specific income, activation and employment supports for people with a disability. For instance, the partial capacity benefit scheme enables recipients of invalidity pension and illness benefit to take-up employment, on a voluntary basis, while continuing to receive income support. The Department manages a supported employment service (EmployAbility) which provides a dedicated job-coaching service for people with disabilities. Intreo services are also available to provide employment support services for people with disabilities who wish to engage with the service on a voluntary basis. There is also a focus on supports available to employers who employ people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Workplace Equipment Adaption Grant Scheme.