Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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303. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the HSE blind welfare allowance is means deductible for a person seeking a disability benefit if section 12 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 amends the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and thereby entitles recipients of the disability allowance to receive the blind welfare allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11176/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Blind Welfare Allowance (BWA) is a means-tested payment from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to people who are blind or visually impaired. The allowance is paid to eligible people from 18 years of age.

BWA is considered as means when applying for Disability Allowance (DA) and means are calculated in accordance with Part 2 of Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended. All cash income to the person (and, where relevant, to the person’s spouse, civil partner or cohabitant) is assessed except for specific exclusions. 

Any change to the current arrangements would be expected to have budgetary implications and would need to be considered in an overall budgetary context.