Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

938. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities and autism retain their free travel pass permanently upon taking up employment, regardless of changes in their disability payment status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30163/25]

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

As part of the “Make Work Pay” iniative persons who moves directly from certain long term Social Protection schemes to employment are entitled to retain their Free Travel entitlement for a further period of 5 years, where they previously had the entitlement to Free Travel on the scheme.

Any decision to expand this iniative and allow people with intellectual disabilities and autism to permanently retain their free travel pass upon taking up employment can only be considered while taking account of the overall scheme policy and the availability of financial resources.

As part of Budget 2024, a significant expansion to the Free Travel eligibility criteria was announced. Access to the Free Travel Pass was expanded to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive for a period of 12 months or longer. There is no requirement that a person must be in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in order to qualify for a Free Travel Pass on these medical grounds, provided the other qualifying criteria are met.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

939. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will review and increase the earnings disregards for disability allowance, with a view to permanently supporting people with intellectual disabilities and autism in employment without fear of losing essential supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30164/25]

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

Disability Allowance is my Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme. Disability Allowance 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. The allowance is also subject to a means test, a medical assessment and a habitual residency requirement.

Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by the Department of Social Protection. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This is compared to €20,000 for most social welfare payments.

Disability Allowance is structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue employment, be that self-employment or insurable employment. Over the last four budgets the Government has progressively improved payment rates and income disregards for disabled people. 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 payment. 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 portion of their payment. The weekly payment rates for Disability Allowance have increased by €41 since Budget 2021.

The Government recognsies that people with disabilities face higher poverty and lower employment rates than other people in society. That is why the Programme for Government prioritises improvements to employment supports for people with disabilities. These commitments include:

• to examine ways to make it easier to regain Disability Allowance if employment ceases;
• to expand and build on successful programmes like WorkAbility, Employability and Work and Access; and
• to review the minimum hours requirement and examine an increase in the payment rate for the Wage Subsidy Scheme.

People with disabilities are also supported in pursuing further education and training programmes through payments such as the Back to Education Allowance and direct referral to training courses via Intreo and the Employability Services. There are also many employment supports that my Department provides to support people with intellectual disabilities and autism in employment. These include the recently revised Work and Access and the Wage Subsidy Scheme.

This combination of income support payments, education and employment supports has been developed to help people with disabilities live full and independent lives.

My Department is currently reviewing means testing across all its social assistance schemes. The outcome of this review will be used to inform decisions regarding any further changes to means testing. Changes to means testing arrangements can only be considered in the overall budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.