Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to undertake research on the costs associated with disability as announced during her briefing on budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42252/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As part of the Pre-Budget consultation process that I and my Department held with stakeholders, the issue of cost of disability was raised. The Deputy will be aware that consideration of the issue was also recommended in a recent report by the combined Joint Oireachtas Committees on Education, Health and Social Protection.

During the Pre-Budget Forum I acknowledged that while there may be extra cost to having a disability, the Government would need to consider further research before arriving at the most appropriate response.

As part of Budget 2019 I announced my intention to commission this research – a first step to comprehensively understanding this complex issue. I expect that this research, when complete, will provide a roadmap to inform policy direction in the future – from a whole-of-Government perspective – in relation to the adequate provision of support to meet the needs of people with disabilities. The Government recognises that those with a disability face additional financial costs. This research will help us to quantify those costs and start to provide for them in future Budgets.

There are considerable issues to be addressed in both defining and measuring the cost of disability. These include defining the scope of the research, deciding on the best approach and engaging in any procurement work. It is my intention to engage with other relevant Departments to address this before procuring independent external research. I have asked my officials to consider and assess the scope, governance and potential timelines for this research.