Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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576. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if, in the case of a person with a disability in receipt of a State payment such as disability allowance, the assets in different types of trust funds that may be set up for that person are taken into account in the means test for the disability allowance; the different treatment of the different types of such trust funds from a social welfare point of view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32709/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Capital (savings and investments) and the value of property owned, but not personally used or enjoyed, are assessed as means in means assessments.

Where capital or property is assessed on this basis, any income received from its use (for example interest on savings, dividends from shares, rent from property let) is not assessed as cash income. In general, the formula used to assess the weekly value of capital is as follows:

• the first €20,000 of capital an applicant holds is fully disregarded;
• the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand,
• the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand,
• with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.

• the first €50,000 of capital an applicant holds is fully disregarded;
• the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand,
• the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand,
• with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.