Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) who is attending a course in the National Learning Network cannot qualify for the disability support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56903/22]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale behind excluding persons from receiving the €500 disability support grant payment who were on disability allowance but transferred to a training allowance when taking up a training course; if her attention has been drawn to reports that this is having a knock-on effect of lowering uptake on courses and participation in education by disabled persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56914/22]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if disabled persons were given assurances by the Government that they would not be made less financially well-off as a result of taking up a training programme and that their payments and secondary benefits would be retained; if not, if this decision can be justified at a time of escalating costs of living for persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56916/22]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that teenagers and young adults who would be in receipt of the disability allowance but who enter training with an organisation (details supplied) through the National Learning Network centres and have to switch over to a training allowance which is the same weekly value as the disability allowance which is mandatory in order to take up training with the organisation; the reason that these teenagers and young adults are excluded from the €500 bonus payment that persons on the disability allowance are entitled to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57000/22]

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider those on a training scheme, who were previously on disability allowance but whose status has temporary changed to training allowance and are now not eligible for the €500 cost-of-living support grant (details supplied); if he plans to include this cohort of the population who are as much in need of this cost-of-living support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57008/22]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

139. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will clarify that persons attending recognised training courses who are receipt of a qualifying payment will be eligible for the one-off €500 disability support payment. [57015/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 132, 134, 135, 138 and 139 together.

My Department has, as you will be aware, acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought forward and implemented within a period of weeks. While this early issue of payments was very challenging it was possible to achieve for people paid directly off the Department’s own payment systems.

However, when undertaking training courses, recipients of Disability Allowance move off the Department’s payment systems and transfer to a Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funded Training Allowance. As a consequence, it was not possible to process early payment of the Disability Support Grant to these recipients in the same manner as was implemented in respect of people paid directly through the Department’s own systems.

I can confirm, however, that it is absolutely the intention that people on training courses, having previously been in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, will receive the €500 Disability Support Grant.

My officials are examining this issue in conjunction with their colleagues in the Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the payment is made to those who are on Training courses as soon as possible.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons who were in receipt of disability allowance and are currently on training courses and who are now going to be excluded from the €500 disability support grant payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56915/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has, as you will be aware, acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought forward and implemented within a period of weeks. While this early issue of payments was very challenging it was possible to achieve for people paid directly off the Department’s own payment systems.

However, when undertaking training courses, recipients of Disability Allowance move off the Department’s payment systems and transfer to a Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funded Training Allowance. As a consequence, it was not possible to process early payment of the Disability Support Grant to these recipients in the same manner as was implemented in respect of people paid directly through the Department’s own systems.

I can confirm, however, that it is absolutely the intention that people on training courses, having previously been in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, will receive the €500 Disability Support Grant.

My officials are examining this issue in conjunction with their colleagues in the Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the payment is made to those who are on Training courses as soon as possible.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.