December 09 2009

Parliamentary Questions

• Cost of Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal
• Funding to disability services in 2010
• Review of the Disability Allowance

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Cost of Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal

Deputy Seán Sherlock (L): asked the Minister for Finance the number of State boards, agencies, regulators or other bodies under his remit; the cost of these bodies;

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the tables below. Table A lists the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department in receipt of Exchequer funding and their Budget allocation for 2009. Table B lists other State Bodies under the aegis of my Department not in receipt of Exchequer funding and as such information on budgets is not included.

As the Deputy may be aware, €4bn in capital was provided to Anglo Irish Bank from Exchequer funds in 2009 to protect the economy from the wider losses that would have occurred in the event of a failure of the Bank.Costs incurred in the provision of capital to Anglo are recoupable under the terms of the Subscription Agreement concluded with the Bank. Also, costs incurred by the State in relation to Anglo under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008 and the Anglo Irish Bank Act 2009 are recoupable under the terms of each Act.

• Funding to disability services in 2010

Deputy John Deasy (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that budget 2010 protects funding to voluntary bodies providing services for those with an intellectual disability;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates andbudgetary process for 2010. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at thisstage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.

• Review of the Disability Allowance

Deputy George Lee (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 905 of 3 November 2009, when the review will be completed; if she will provide this Deputy with a copy of the report after it is completed;

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The review of the Disability Allowance scheme is examining the objectives of the scheme and their compatibility with the overall strategy of the Department, in particular the policy objective of supporting people of working age into employment, and the extent to which the objectives have been achieved. It is envisaged that the review will be finalised early in 2010.

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