Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
17. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection for an overview of measures being taken in his Department in 2026 to support people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2685/26]
View answerMy Department is committed to supporting disabled people and offers a range of income and employment supports to achieve this.
The Department of Social Protection provides a range of income support payments for disabled people. There are currently approximately 231,000 recipients of disability income support payments, with estimated expenditure of €3.24 billion in 2025.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. This contained significant targeted measures, meaning this year, disabled people will see a €10 increase in their weekly rates of payment, a €5 increase in Fuel Allowance and the highest ever increases in the Child Support Payment.
Budget 2026 also provided for improvements to employments supports offered to disabled people. People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years and people on these payments who have children will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment. The Wage Subsidy Scheme was expanded to people who acquire a disability while in employment and to those who transfer from Invalidity Pension to Partial Capacity Benefit while rates will be increased from April.
In 2026, my Department will continue to work towards the commitments outlined in the National Human Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. My Department, alongside the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will lead the employment pillar, focused on improving access to the workplace for all disabled people. My Department will also lead a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability. The network will take a whole of government approach to address this issue with the involvement of all relevant Departments and Agencies.
The work of this network, which will include disabled people and their advocates, will inform the approach to be taken. I have asked my officials to expedite this work with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
