Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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598. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 317 to 323 of 21 March 2018, the outcome of the consultation process regarding reconfiguring the age of eligibility for domiciliary care allowance and disability allowance which was due to conclude in April 2018 (details supplied). [49530/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Make Work Pay report was published in April 2017 following a commitment in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities 2015 -2024, and was undertaken in order to better identify how people with disabilities could be supported to achieve their employment ambitions.

The report made two recommendations (number 9 and 10) that addressed significant issues around the design of the main income supports schemes. These related to (a) reconfiguration of the starting age of DA from the current age of 16 to 18 years and (b) implementing the principle of early engagement for young persons on Disability Allowance (DA) and on all illness and disability payments.

To fulfil a commitment of the report, a wide consultation was conducted with persons with disabilities and their families in relation to these recommendations. This consultation began in September 2017 and continued until June 2018 with the final meeting of a key stakeholder focus group (this group comprises of persons with experience of disability issues and has helped the Department with the design of the national consultation process).

The public consultation process on recommendations 9 and 10 of the Make Work Pay report concluded in April, 2018. Outcomes from stakeholder submissions, four regional consultations (Dublin, Cork, Sligo, and Limerick), and online questionnaires were compiled. These outcomes were further considered by the key stakeholder focus group.

A report has now been drafted and next steps are currently under consideration prior to a decision being made on its publication.

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.