07 June 2011

Parliamentary Questions

• Statistics on people with autism
• Social welfare entitlements subject to tax
• Springboard programme and  people on Disability Allowance
• HSE transport charge on people attending disability services
• Special class at school in Dublin 17

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Statistics on people with autism

Deputy Eoghan Murphy (FG): asked the Taoiseach the steps he will take to ascertain the number of people affected by autism; and the reason a provision for collecting this information was not included in the recent census.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe):  As part of the preparatory work for the 2011 census, the CSO conducted a public consultation on the topics to be covered; all Government Departments were contacted for their input and a notice calling for submissions was published in the national press. Over 90 submissions covering 31 topics were received in total, among them submissions on the subject of disability, and in particular on the subject of autism. All submissions were considered by a specially convened Census Advisory Group which was representative of central and local government, the social partners, universities, research bodies and other users of census data along with the relevant CSO personnel. A specific sub-group was convened to consider the disability questions on the census form. This sub-group was composed of representatives from the National Disability Authority, the Equality Authority, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies.The proposal to list specific disabilities within the disability question, namely to make specific reference to autistic spectrum disorder, or Down’s syndrome, in the category ‘A learning or intellectual disability’ was considered at the second meeting of the group. The group concluded that it would not be appropriate, nor would there be enough room on the census form, to list all individual disabilities. However, in order to go some way towards accommodating this request the existing (2006 census) category ‘A learning or intellectual disability’ was split into two categories ‘An intellectual disability’ and separately ‘A difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating’. The group felt that this approach narrowed the categories and thus helped address the issue of autism, while allowing the question to remain as inclusive as possible. The topics that were ultimately included in the recent census were agreed by Government at its meeting on 11 December 2009 and Question 16 of the 2011 census distinguished the two categories as described above. The National Disability Survey, which was carried out in 2006 following the Census of Population that year, found a prevalence rate for autism of approximately 4 per 1,000 among children aged 0-17 years. However, international clinical studies generally find higher prevalence rates and this is indicative of the difficulty in measuring autism by means of household surveys or censuses. There are no plans for the CSO to repeat the 2006 National Disability Survey. 

• Social welfare entitlements subject to tax

Deputy Michael McGrath (FF): asked the Minister for Finance the weekly social welfare payments that are subject to income tax.

Minister for Finance (Deputy Michael Noonan):  The following Social Welfare Payments are taxable:

State Pension (Contributory)

State Pension (Non-Contributory)

State Pension (Transition)Illness Benefit**

Invalidity Pension

Occupational Injury Benefit**

Interim Disability Benefit**

Disablement Benefit*

Death Benefit Pension

Widow/er’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory)

PensionWidow/er’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension

Deserted Wife’s Benefit

Deserted Wife’s Allowance

Prisoner’s Wife’s Allowance

One-Parent Family Payment (Unmarried parent, Separated Spouse, Prisoner’s Spouse)

Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)Guardian’s Payment ( Non-Contributory)

Carer’s Allowance

Carer’s Benefit

Jobseeker’s Benefit and Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (first €13 per week excluded)***

Unemployability Supplement (payable with Disablement Pension)

Blind Pension

Constant Attendance Allowance (payable with Disablement Pension)

*When payable in the form of a pension rather than a once-off payment.**

Illness/Interim/Injury Benefit payable for the first 6 weeks of each year and any child dependent element of benefit is exempt from tax.***

Jobseeker’s Benefit paid to systematic short-term workers is exempt. 

• Springboard programme and  people on Disability Allowance

Deputy Clare Daly (SP): asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is the case that the new Springboard programme is not open to persons in receipt of disability benefit; the reason this is the case, in view of the fact that it is standard practice throughout the higher education sector that educational opportunities be equally available to persons with disabilities;

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn):  Springboard is not a general education measure. It is a specific initiative targeted at unemployed people who have lost jobs in sectors where employment will not return to previous levels and who will need new qualifications and skills to re-enter employment. It is not targeted at people who have never been in employment or at those who may have lost their job as a result of an illness or disability and who may be able to return to work in their chosen profession when their illness or disability has ended. It is fully accepted that people with disabilities may also have lost their jobs as a result of the recession and may need reskilling to re-enter employment. It is open to any person with a disability who meets the eligibility criteria to apply for a place on a Springboard programme. Providers have also been reminded of their obligations to ensure that appropriate facilities are in place to support the participation of people with disabilities. 

• HSE transport charge on people attending disability services

Deputy Pearse Doherty (SF): asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the transport charge introduced by the Health Service Executive through the rural transport initiative levied on persons with disabilities attending training centres and day centres in County Donegal; his views that this additional burden should not be imposed on the disabled in view of the budget cuts to their payments; Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch):  As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.  

• Special class at school in Dublin 17

Deputy Seán Kenny (L): asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that the special needs class at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 17 will be retained for the next primary school year.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn):  I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes the allocation of resource teaching hours to schools as well as the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required and the discontinuation of such classes where the need no longer exists. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such supports. In respect of special classes, schools are required to observe Department policy in enrolling children to these classes. This includes having a professional assessment confirming that the child’s attainment levels meets the Department’s criteria and a recommendation for special class placement. Schools are eligible for resources for special classes when the pupils enrolled meet the Department’s criteria.Schools are required to liaise with their local SENO in the context of any proposed placements in such classes. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. I have arranged to have your query forwarded to the NCSE for its attention and direct reply.

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