Plan to End Rehabilitative Training Allowance for School Leavers

Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has described reports that the HSE plans to end the Rehabilitative Training allowance as a retrograde step that is wrong, unacceptable and highlights again the Government’s inability to manage its Health budget.

Hundreds of young school leavers with a disability who take up training programmes this September are to have their Special Allowance of 31.80 axed and the allowance will no longer be paid to new entrants.

The rehabilitative training is a life skills programme that was funded by the HSE and is geared towards supporting adults with disabilities to develop new skills that will support them in developing confidence, independence and help them to progress to further educational and mainstream services where possible.

Students already attending a course will continue to receive their allowance until they complete their course finishes.

Deputy Seán Crowe said

“The current Programme for Government commits to ensuring that all 18-year-old school leavers with an intellectual and physical Impairments will have access to continued education or training opportunities.

“Despite this, it is now being reported that the HSE intends to end the rehabilitative training allowance for new entrants from the beginning of September.

“This allowance is for school leavers with a physical or mental impairment who take up training programmes; permitting them access to community, leisure and social integration activities. 

“This cut will create a financial inequality among school leavers with a disability and has been described as a slap in the face by those who are planning to enter training this September.

“The HSE received a budget increase of €850 million for 2019, and the Minister has decided to pick on low hanging fruit because he can’t control his own budget, with waste in projects like the National Children’s Hospital.

“The Minister must immediately reverse this decision. This proposal is wrong, unacceptable and highlights again the Government’s inability to manage its Health budget.  ” ENDS