Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that those in receipt of disability allowance are permitted up to €50,000 in savings, while those on a blind pension are only allowed €20,000; and if there are plans to rectify this. [3737/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and the Pathways to Work Strategy 2021-2025, my Department has committed to developing and consulting on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments, with a view to simplifying the system, removing inconsistencies and supporting employment. This process will provide an opportunity to examine the issues raised by the Deputy.

Work on developing the strawman is currently underway within my Department, with a public consultation expected to be undertaken later this year.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how income is assessed for a self-employed professional artist on the professional artists on jobseeker's allowance scheme who wins a commission or Arts Council award; and how it affects their entitlement to the professional artists' on jobseeker's allowance scheme. [3738/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Professional Artist Scheme under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme is an initiative of the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme. The schemeacknowledges the status of self-employed artists in specified art forms and gives them a 12 month window to focus on building up their work before they became subject to labour market activation which is mandatory for most recipients of jobseeker's payments. The other conditions associated with Jobseeker’s Allowance, including a means test, continue to apply, as they do for all other claimants.

For a self-employed person the earnings from their business is assessed in the means test for Jobseeker’s Allowance. Earnings are assessed as gross income less work-related expenses.

Commissions and awards, as referred to by the Deputy, are considered income for Jobseeker's Allowance means testing purposes.

If the Deputy is aware of a specific case he should direct the person to their local Intreo Centre where they can outline their specific circumstances so that their position can be examined.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.