Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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215. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a recent report (details supplied) which highlights the additional living costs for visually impaired persons and the differential rate of their minimum essential standard of living; her views on the report; the steps she will take to address its findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47321/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The findings of the recent National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) and Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ) report on a minimum essential standard of living (MESL) for a single adult with vision impairment have been made available to my Department. The results of this research are a useful contribution to analysis on the issue of income adequacy in general. This research is an adaptation of the VBSJ’s studies on the minimum essential standard of living for the general population, which have estimated the level of income needed to meet an individual's / household's physical, psychological and social needs, and which is calculated by identifying the goods and services required by different household types in order to meet these minimum needs.

The findings show that the cost of an MESL is estimated to be higher for a person with vision impairment than for members of the general population who have full sight. Overall, the additional cost in 2016 for an individual with vision impairment was €44. 54 more than the cost for a single adult in the main MESL (€241. 22).

People with vision impairment who require income support can apply to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for a blind person’s pension. This is the only scheme for a specific disability operated by the Department and was introduced almost 100 years ago in 1920. To be eligible for this payment, the applicant must satisfy a number of conditions set down by legislation: be at least 18 years of age and under the pension age; be so blind that he or she either cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue his or her ordinary occupation, satisfy a means test, and satisfy the habitual residency condition.

There are currently some 1,280 people in receipt of a blind person’s pension at a cost of some €13. 5 million in 2017.

Alternatively, the disability allowance payment can be claimed by a person with vision impairment which substantially restricts them in undertaking suitable employment. The current rate of payment for both the blind person’s pension and the disability allowance is €193 per week for a single person. Budget 2018 provides an additional €5 per week for each of these payments, bringing the rate up to €198 per week next year.

Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. Recipients may also be entitled to a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, which are considered secondary in nature. In this regard, recipients of the blind person’s pension or disability allowance may also be entitled to a free travel pass and the household benefits package. In addition to these, I understand that the Health Service Executive operates a supplement means-tested scheme – the blind welfare allowance – for blind people receiving certain welfare payments, including the blind pension. The current rate of payment is €58. 50 per week for a single person.

Any further increases in the rates of primary and secondary payments to persons with disabilities including those with vision impairment would have to be considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.