Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

The Government recognises the additional costs associated with having a disability and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people. In the programme for Government, we are committed to introducing a permanent annual cost of disability support payment. These commitments will build on progress made in recent years where we have taken steps to recognise the additional costs associated with having a disability. As part of last year's budget, significant supports for people with disabilities were introduced, including: an October 2024 cost-of-living bonus for people in receipt of a long-term weekly social welfare payment; a €400 cost-of-living lump sum payment for people in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension or blind pension in November 2024; a €200 cost-of-living lump sum payment to people who are getting a living alone allowance in November 2024; and a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2025.

The Indecon report on the cost of disability, commissioned and funded by my Department, found that the extra costs of disability are due to factors including higher costs of healthcare, transport, education and other services that arise because of a higher level of dependence on these services by people with disabilities. The report noted that addressing these costs was not simply a matter of a higher welfare payment but would need to incorporate improvements in services. This report recommended that any additional public expenditure should be targeted on areas where high potential costs are creating hardship, rather than spreading resources thinly.

An Taoiseach is chairing a Cabinet committee on disability with a view to driving and monitoring progress on implementing all programme for Government commitments in this area. As part of this work, my Department is examining the best way of delivering an annual cost-of-disability payment within the overall budgetary context. The Deputy can be assured this is a matter I intend to progress during my term in the Department.

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