Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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584. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to change the process for certifying the level of vision of a person receiving the blind welfare allowance; if qualifying persons for the blind welfare allowance will continue to be able to confirm their level of vision through an optometrist’s report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36183/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth do not plan to change the process to certify the level of vision for those applying to the Blind Welfare Allowance.

To qualify for Blind Welfare Allowance, the clinical requirement is that an applicant’s best vision must be equal to or less than 6/60 in the better eye or, if the field of vision is limited, the widest diameter of vision must subtend an angle of not greater than 20 degrees.

Persons may qualify for Blind Welfare Allowance if they are getting the Blind Pension from the Department of Social Protection (DSP).

Persons may also qualify for the Blind Welfare Allowance if they can provide certification of their level of vision (see below) and if they:

• Meet the income threshold
• Get an income maintenance payment from the DSP, or an equivalent social security payment from another country

• A certificate of visual impairment from an ophthalmic surgeon/physician or,
• A letter from Vision Ireland confirming best vision equal to or less than 6/60 in the better eye or if the field of vision is limited, the widest diameter of vision subtending an angle of not greater than 20 degrees