Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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56. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the promised strawman proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments; the timeline for the public consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6125/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025 includes a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to simplify the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the Make Work Pay report.

The Strawman will also meet commitments under Pathways to Work to review the current long-term disability payment schemes with a view to removing inconsistencies/anomalies and to ensure that they recognise the continuum of disabilities and support employment.

The Cost of Disability research report was published by my Department in December 2021. It is feeding into the preparation of the Strawman reform proposals.

Work on the Strawman is at an advanced stage. I intend to carry out a wider consultation process with all stakeholders and advocacy groups following publication.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.