Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will outline the various supports for people with disabilities in Budget 2023; the way that this aligns with ongoing work on the Cost of Disability report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59229/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2021 Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run across a number of areas of expenditure, including housing, equipment, aids and appliances, care and assistance services, mobility, transport, communications, medicines, and additional living expenses.

The findings of the research have implications for many areas of public policy. Based on this, one of Indecon's conclusions is that a multifaceted, whole of government approach is required to address the cost of disability. It is for this reason the Government decided that the report, and actions on foot of the report should be considered and monitored by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group. This group is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, and is comprised of relevant departments, agencies, and the Disability Stakeholder Group. The stakeholder group is comprised of persons who have expertise and lived experience of disability, who are appointed by the Minister of State for Disability - who serve three-year periods as members of the group.

A number of the measures I introduced, as part of Budget 2023, in support of people with disabilities reflect the findings of the report, these included a:

Paid in October:

- Cost-of-Living Double Payment, paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carers and people on Disability Payments.

Paid in November

- €500 Cost of Living Disability Support Grant, paid to all people receiving a long-term Disability payment.

- €500 Cost of Living Payment for people receiving the Carer’s Support Grant.

- €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment, to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance.

- €200 Lump Sum Payment, for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance.

- Double Payment of Child Benefit to support all families with children.

To be paid in December

- Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to 1.3 million Social Protection recipients including: Pensioners, Carers and People with Disabilities.

In addition, from January 2023, the following measures will be implemented:

- a €12 increase in weekly payments with proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people who receive a reduced rate, to include for example the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, and invalidity Pension.

- The Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200.

- Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for the Fuel Allowance.

- Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month.

- Domiciliary Care Allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth.

- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.

The Indecon report particularly identified the importance of supporting the employment of disabled people. To assist with this, Budget 2023 included other important measures:

- The earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased by €25 per week, from €140 to €165 from January.

- €1m funding for enhancements to the Reasonable Accommodation Fund grants has been put in place. These grants support the employment of disabled people in the private sector. Following a public consultation, conducted earlier this year, the Department will bring forward reform proposals for this fund before the end of the year.

- Changes to the JobsPlus incentive scheme, to encourage private sector employers to employ disabled people. Employers who employ people in receipt of the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension can avail of two grants under this scheme, the vaule of the grants are €7,500 and €10,000.