Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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736. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that individuals in receipt of disability allowance who take up a place in the community employment scheme will be eligible for the one-off cost-of-disability payment of €500. [55655/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, the Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €1.2 billion during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

The €500 lump sum payment to those on Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension will be paid to those receiving these payments in the relevant week in November.

Participants of the Community Employment scheme were eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment last month, and the Christmas Bonus in December. Those participants with children also received the Double Payment of Child Benefit in November.

As part of Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce a €12 increase in weekly payments from next January. This will apply to all weekly schemes including Disability Allowance recipients and Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme and Tús participants. I am also increasing the Qualified Child rate by €2 per week.

In addition, the top-up rate on these employment schemes is increasing by €5 per week. This means that, combined with the rate increase, participants on these schemes will see a rise of €17 per week next year, and more for participants with adult or child dependants.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.