Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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81. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the cost of disability study commissioned by her Department as part of budget 2019; when the research is expected to be completed; the analysis her Department has carried out into increasing the disability allowance by €20 as an interim measure while the research is being completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26220/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability. In line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government, the research will provide a valuable input to inform policy on the provision of supports to meet the needs of people with disabilities. The report is expected in the coming weeks.

This matter is considerably wider than the income support system and will not be addressed through income support alone which is why a whole-of-Government perspective is being taken.

As part of the research a survey of over 34,000 people with disabilities was undertaken. The very large sample was designed to give individuals living with a disability an opportunity to contribute directly to the research. The high number of responses, 4,700, makes this one of the largest surveys of its kind of individuals with disabilities undertaken in Ireland. I look forward to receiving the completed report shortly.

In Budget 2021, I introduced a number of measures to support people with disabilities, this included an increase of €20 in the earnings disregard for recipients of Disability Allowance. This will affect 15,000 recipients and cost €2.9m in 2021. Other measures include a €1,000 Training Grant to help people with disabilities who are seeking employment, and an increase of €150 to the Carer’s Support Grant. The new Grant rate of €1,850 is the highest rate ever and will be paid in June.

Finally, it would be premature at this point to give any commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure towards existing or additional payments while awaiting the outcomes of the research.