Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
442. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine a submission from a person (details supplied) to implement an emergency winter payment to offset the cost of disability in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3194/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent support measures.
That is why the Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people which will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context. 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 from this month.
• A €5 increase or 15% increase in the Fuel Allowance, bringing it to €38 per week or €1,064 per year from this month.
• 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 costs 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.
• People moving from Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work will be able to retain their Fuel Allowance payment for five years.
• People getting Disability Allowance or Blind Pension who have children will be eligible for Back to Work Family Dividend when taking up employment and moving off those payments.
• Expansion of the Wage Subsidy Scheme to people who acquire a disability while in employment.
• Significant increases in the rate of payment of the Wage Subsidy Scheme of up to 19% from April.
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.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. Also, a Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people that have exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition and are unable to meet those costs out of household income. Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment or a Heating Supplement is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service or apply online via [www.mywelfare.ie].
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
