Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1163. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the basic social welfare rate will be increased for the blind pension and disability allowance by at least €20 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4563/20]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an organisation (details supplied) will be officially recognised as a complementary service provider to support and strengthen the structures already in place through the Intreo service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4572/20]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will engage with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to barriers in accessing Intreo services for blind and vision impaired persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4573/20]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the requirement that work is of a rehabilitative nature will be removed from the blind pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4574/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1163 and 1170 to 1172, inclusive, together.

My Department reviews both its schemes and services regularly, and in doing so consults widely with the disability sector.

Consultation is undertaken through the following framework:

1. The Department's Disability Consultative Forum (DCF) which enables a two-way dialogue on theDepartments schemes and services, as they relate to customers with disabilities. The forum provides a channel for the views and perspectives of people with disabilities and their representatives to be communicated to the Department, while also providing a mechanism to raise issues of concern and make recommendations which can influence policy formulation, service and scheme delivery.

2. The Pre-Budget Forum, which is held annually and provides an opportunity for organisations in the sector to discuss and debate policy issues and present their thoughts and views on the upcoming Budget to the Minister and senior departmental officials. The forum is used to inform the annual Budget process.

3. Formal meetings with the community and voluntary sector which are convened twice a year.

4. Bi-lateral meetings with representative organisations.

This consultative framework ensures that stakeholders have the opportunity to provide feedback on budgetary, policy and operational matters related to schemes and services for people with disabilities.

The National Council for the Blind Ireland (NCBI) has participated in the above consultation framework and the Department has written recently to the NCBI to seek a new nominee to attend DCF meetings.

It should be noted that there is no requirement that work must be of a rehabilitative nature with regards to the blind pension.

Any proposed increases to payments, such as to the disability allowance or blind pension, will be considered in the context of the annual budget process. This process includes the pre-budget forum with the opportunity for the submission of proposals by all disability stakeholders.