Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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439. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the extra benefits announced in Budget 2023 for people on disability allowance will be available to those who have come off disability allowance on a temporary basis to undertake Solas training courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52886/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2023, the Social Protection budget has been designed to assist people with Cost-of- Living increases through a mix of lump sum payments, increases to weekly payment rates and an expansion of the fuel allowance scheme.

The measures introduced include the provision of a one-off €500 Cost-of-Living lump sum payment, which will be paid during November 2022 to recipients of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant. Recipients who are in receipt of one (or more) of these payments will qualify for the €500 payment.

Those attending a Solas training course are not eligible for the €500 Cost-of-Living lump sum payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.