John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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1402. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports available to single adults with disabilities who are living independently, with limited or no family supports; and the measures being taken to address gaps in housing provision and long-term income stability for this cohort. [18924/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a number of income and employment supports for people with a disability. The income supports include Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension. Both Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are means tested social assistance schemes, while Invalidity Pension is a social insurance based scheme.

Disability Allowance is the primary disability related social assistance scheme which is a means-tested payment for people with a disability who are aged between 16 and 66. In order to be eligible, the disability must be expected to last for at least one year. Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who are regarded as being permanently incapable of work because of a long-term illness or disability and who are covered by PRSI contributions.

There are also a range of secondary benefits which people on disability payments may be eligible for. These include the Household Benefits Package, Fuel Allowance and Free Travel.

The Department's disability-related schemes have been structured to support recipients to pursue employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. There are a number of employment supports available.

People on Disability Allowance and Blind Pension can take up employment or self-employment and continue to receive all or part of their social welfare payment, depending on their income. A person can earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate of Disability Allowance and up to €517.60 a week and still keep their entitlement to the minimum rate of payment and their secondary benefits.

People in receipt of Invalidity Pension who wish to return to work may be eligible for Partial Capacity Benefit where they retain a proportion of their disability payment. Partial Capacity Benefit has been designed so there are no restrictions or limits on earnings from employment or on the number of hours a person can work.

Through its network of Intreo centres my Department offer a number of employment supports for people with disabilities to help them realise their employment goals. The Work and Access scheme offers seven supports to help reduce and remove barriers in the workplace for people with a disability. Funding is available for supports such as work coaches, work equipment, and training. Jobseekers, employees, self-employed people and employers may apply for supports both for the business premises and remote workplaces. The Wage Subsidy Scheme supports employers to hire people with disabilities through a subsidy of between €6.30 and €9.45 per hour. The WorkAbility programme supports people with disabilities into employment through 57 local, regional and national projects.

My Department has committed to improving outcomes for people with a disability. As a result, an extensive range of targeted cost of living measures and increases to weekly payments to support people with disabilities were announced as part of Budgets 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Housing provision is primarily a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.