Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)

The introduction of a cost-of-disability payment has been proposed but not acted upon for far too long. Detailed research and costings were carried out by the National Disability Authority as far back as 2006 and updated in the comprehensive Indecon report of 2021. Both reports clearly demonstrated the significant additional costs that come with living with a disability. These findings have been consistently echoed by the Disability Federation of Ireland, which has long advocated for a permanent payment that recognises these unavoidable expenses.

A cost-of-disability payment would represent a structural long-term recognition of the daily additional costs of disability, covering such areas as transport, heating, medical needs, equipment and more. This is a matter of basic fairness and equality. I call on the Government to set out without delay a firm timeline for the introduction of a cost-of-disability payment and to make provision for it in the upcoming budget.

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