Written answers

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Departmental Reports

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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480. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider publishing an interim report compiled from a smaller portion of the replies from the full cost of disability report by a company (details supplied) in order to assist with making part of the research available prior to budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38061/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government, the Government will use the research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy.

The Cost of Disability report has been recently received and my Department is considering it in detail. As part of this consideration it is intended to brief and seek the views of relevant Government departments who have a role to play in the delivery of disability services and supports. Once this process is complete, I intend to submit the report to Government for consideration. 

The report does not lend itself to publication in the format suggested by the Deputy for a number of reasons, as follows:-

- It is not possible to give a portion of the replies. The questionnaires were completed on the basis that they were strictly confidential. The survey was done independently by Indecon Research Economists and completed responses were sent directly to Indecon and on the basis that responses would not be shared with the Department or anyone else. Indecon committed to treating all the information provided with the highest standards of security and confidentiality and in line with Irish and European Data Protection legislation.

- The researchers were asked to provide quantitative estimates involving a mixed-method approach. This approach involved using:-

- An income survey “top-down” approach, for example, the Standard of Living (SoL) approach using econometric analysis of data from household income or expenditure survey data.

- A ‘bottom-up’ direct measurement approach, this method is be based on data from the experience of people with disabilities, i.e. the survey.

- It is the combination of the findings of the empirical analysis of the various datasets and the Indecon survey of people with disabilities and econometric modelling, combined with a review of international research which provide a range of authoritative estimates for the overall costs of disability in Ireland. It is therefore no appropriate to try to isolate one element from the wider context of the analysis.

Finally, I would like to reassure the Deputy that a decision regarding the appropriate date of the publication of the report in its entirety will be made once Government has had an opportunity to consider the report fully.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.  

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