Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, we are in the cycle now where we are putting our focus on budget 2024. Many meetings will be held between all the various Ministers. I speak today on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, who has special responsibility for disabilities. She has done Trojan work over the last three years and has significantly increased the budget in this regard.

Turning to the Deputy's question, a €500 lump sum payment to people receiving disability allowance, the blind pension or the invalidity pension has already been forthcoming in response to the cost-of-living crisis. I can guarantee, though, that every Minister, including my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will do the very best they can in the context of budget 2024 for people living with disabilities.

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