Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the action being taken to address the increase in at-risk and consistent poverty rates for persons with disabilities that was disclosed in the most recent SILC data. [1844/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) results for 2016 shows that people in households headed by a person whose principal economic status is not at work due to illness or disability continue to experience higher at risk and consistent poverty rates than the general population. The survey also shows that social transfers play a very significant role in reducing poverty and that Ireland continues to be among the best performing EU countries in reducing poverty and inequality through spending on social protection. In 2018, expenditure on illness, disability and carers payments will amount to over €3.9 billion or almost one fifth of the total Departmental spend. This includes a €5 per week increase in the maximum weekly rate for recipients of disability allowance, invalidity pension and carer’s allowance, with proportionate increases for adult dependents and an increase of €2 per child per week for qualified child dependents.

Given the continuing economic recovery throughout 2017 and the measures introduced in Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018, it is reasonable to expect future poverty statistics 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.

It is recognised that the best route out of poverty and social exclusion is through paid employment. My Department manages a range of employment support programmes for people with disabilities, including the wage subsidy scheme, the EmployAbility service and the reasonable accommodation fund. The partial capacity benefit is also available to support people on invalidity pension or illness benefit (of more than 6 months) who have some capacity for work and who choose to return to employment. The Department’s Intreo service is also available to provide employment support services for people with disabilities who wish to engage with the service on a voluntary basis. Expenditure on these programmes will amount to some €50 million in 2018.

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 aim of the strategy is to increase the numbers of people at work, and the proportion of people with disabilities in a job.

The Government’s strategy for addressing poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Strategy identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. The Department is reviewing the Plan, as it reached the end of its term in 2017, 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.

I can assure the Deputy that a reduction in measured poverty rates for people with a disability is a key priority of the Government. We will continue to keep the range of supports under review as well as implement the comprehensive employment strategy in order to secure better income and employment outcomes for people with disabilities.