Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

139. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to reform the disability allowance payment to remove the current means test for the payment, in line with Programme for Government commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21687/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland’s Future commits to reform the Disability Allowance Payment and remove anomalies in the current means test; there is no commitment to remove the means test.

Over the last four budgets the Government have progressively improved payment rates and income disregards for disabled people. The weekly payment rates for Disability Allowance have increased by €41 in that time. The earnings disregard has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. This enables those in receipt of Disability Allowance to earn more without having a negative impact on their means tested payment. It means that people can currently earn up to €165 per week and keep their payment in full and can earn up to €517.60 per week and keep a small portion of their payment.

Any further changes to the means test will be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.