Disability support grant anomaly
Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú said some National Learning Network students were being excluded from the €500 disability support payment because their allowance changed to a training allowance. The Tánaiste said he would have the matter checked and noted other lump-sum cost-of-living payments due the following week.
Many National Learning Network students have received letters stating they will not get the €500 disability support due to be paid on Monday, 14 November. That is people in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, blind pension and carer's grant. When a National Learning Network student enters training, their disability allowance changes to a training allowance for the duration of the course and on that basis some will not receive the grant. This is unjust. Many will have made plans in relation to this. The disability support grant is paid to recognise the huge costs for those with disability and their families. We need to rectify this straightaway.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. I will ask my people to look into that. I do not want to make any promises here, but it may be an anomaly. We will look into that and see if a change is warranted. Next week, a number of lump sum payments will be made: fuel allowance, €400; living alone allowance, €200; to carers, €500; working families, €500; people in receipt of disability payments, €500. Significant help is on the way to put money back in people's pockets to help with the cost of living, all coming into effect next week. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, will let people know the detail of that in the next couple of days.