Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Question:10. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to combat poverty among disabled individuals and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15363/26]
View answerThursday, 26 February 2026
Questions (10)
Written answers
The Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people which will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government. We are currently at the start of that five-year programme but, our actions in Budget 2026 indicate our commitment to delivering what we promised.
In Budget 2026, I provided for a €1.15 billion package of new social protection measures. This contained significant targeted measures to support disabled people, including:
• A €10, or 4.1%, increase in the weekly rates of payment, bringing the personal rates of payment to €254 per week.
• A €5 increase or 15% increase in the Fuel Allowance, bringing it to €38 per week or €1,064 per annum.
Both of these increases were ahead of cost increases. They compare to a general inflation rate reported by the CSO of 3.2% in the year to the end of November 2025 and an energy cost increase of about 3.5% for the same period.
In addition, Budget 2026 provided for:
• A Christmas bonus double payment to all persons getting a long-term disability payment, paid in December 2025.
• The highest ever increases in the Child Support Payment – an increase of €16 to €78 for children aged 12 or over, and of €8 to €58 for children under 12.
The Government also allocated €3.8 billion to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for disability services in 2026, including funding for Community Based Specialist Disability Services.
One of our commitments is to introduce a Cost of Disability Payment. Last Friday, I launched a consultation process on this payment and the Strategic Focus Network Summit which I will host on 13 May. The consultation process will be open until Tuesday 7 April. I encourage anyone who is interested to visit gov.ie/COD to get full details about the process.
The Summit will provide a space for key stakeholders to identify ways that not only my Department, but all Government Departments and Agencies can make changes to address the cost of disability. This whole of government approach is important as we know that addressing these costs in a meaningful and sustainable way is not simply a matter of a income supports, the delivery of and access to key services is also needed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Questions Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive, answered orally.