Emer Currie
Question:176. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the introduction of the cost of disability payment. [38020/26]
View answerWednesday, 20 May 2026
Questions (176)
Written answers
The Government recognises the additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. That is why the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability payment.
In addition, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, includes a commitment to a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, emphasising the cross-government nature of the issue.
To prepare for the summit I ran a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered. I am very pleased that there was an exceptional response with over 1,000 submissions received.
The submissions helped inform the agenda for the Summit which I hosted in the Aviva Stadium on the 13th of May 2026. It was an in-person and on-line event attended by many people with disabilities, Disability Person Organisations and other advocacy groups as well as representatives of many Government Departments and members of the Oireachtas together with senior Government Ministers including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State for Disability and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport. This attendance indicates that while the work on the cost of disability has been led by my Department the delivery of a solution will involve a range of Departments and agencies.
Following the Summit, a briefing paper will be produced outlining the key learnings. These will inform the approach that will be taken including the measures that may be taken as part of Budget 2027. While the issue cannot be resolved in one budget cycle I, and my Government colleagues intend, to the best of our ability, to use the resources available in Budget 2027 to make a meaningful difference.