Social Welfare Payments

Thursday, 15 January 2026

Ceisteanna (28, 31, 33, 45, 412)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

28. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2520/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

31. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment; the potential cost to the Exchequer of such a payment; if there is a timeline for the introduction of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69982/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

33. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the proposed annual cost of disability support payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2597/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

45. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the future plans he and his Department have for persons living with a disability following the outcome of Budget 2026, where there is now evidence that persons with a disability are facing a cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

412. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the cost of disability as it affects people with disabilities living in rural communities. [68470/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 31, 33, 45 and 412 together.

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.

The Government recognises the many additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures to help them address these costs.

That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people - commitments which have been further developed in The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. The strategy adopts a whole-of-Government approach with individual Departments and Agencies responsible for planning and delivering the commitments that come under their remit across five key pillars. The commitment to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment sits within this framework as a matter on which my Department is to take the lead. Subject to the overall budgetary context I am determined to include the payment as part of Budget 2027.

Importantly the strategy requires that the delivery of its various commitments should be informed by, and should include, the active input of disabled people and their advocates.

Accordingly, as set out in the strategy, my Department will lead a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability with the involvement of other relevant Departments and Agencies.

The work of this network, which will include disabled people and their advocates, will inform the approach to be taken in addressing the cost of disability. Officials have held bi-lateral meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network with the matter also being discussed at my Department's Disability Consultative Forum, on December 2nd last.

A meeting with the Disabled Persons Organisation's network is being organised and that is expected to take place next Friday, 23rd January.

Given my intention to include a cost of disability for consideration in Budget 2027 I have asked my officials to continue to prioritise this work with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of this year.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.