Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has proposals to enable artists with disabilities to practice their creativity without losing their disability supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37609/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a number of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability.

There is a range of benefits available to people who make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Entitlement to such benefits is dependent on the individual's social insurance contribution record, the class of social insurance paid as well as satisfying other qualification criteria. Invalidity Pension is one such, non means tested, income support.

A person who has an insufficient PRSI contribution record may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme. The application of the means test not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those with greatest need. Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are two means tested social assistance schemes, which are also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement.

It is important to note however that within the schemes a number of disregards apply, for the purpose of the means test; these include:

- Both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension schemes are structured to support recipients to pursue employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. In the means test, both schemes have an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375 are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test.

- Capital disregards apply for both schemes.

- There are also a range of other services and grants available to support people with disabilities to pursue employment opportunities, these include for example, the workplace equipment adaptation grant (WEAG).

My Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives, while any proposed changes have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.