Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said in my previous answer, this year's budget is a record €3.2 billion, which is an increase of 11.6% on 2024. That has been set out to me by the Department involved. What this will result in is further progress on many of the initiatives established by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. In the first half of this year, regarding the waiting lists initiative, there has been improvement in the number of assessments of need completed, which is a 28% increase on the same period last year. Regional hubs have been established across the country and are operational and there is strong oversight from the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to ensure there is delivery and much greater progress in terms of oversight with all of the various CHO teams across the country.

Through this budget, there will be further progress for people with disabilities this year and next year. We have a substantial cost-of-living package complemented by core social protection allocations from the Minister for Social Protection that are very specifically focused on people with disabilities, their carers and their families. This Government wants to do more, particularly to support improvement in front-line interventions for those who have been waiting too long.

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