Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Many of my colleagues have already spoken about the cost-of-living crisis, in case anyone needed it pointed out to them, that exists out there. Whether we are talking about energy costs, rent and other housing costs, or insurance, we know all the issues. That is even before anybody goes to a till when he or she tries to do the shopping on a Friday, Saturday or whatever day he or she chooses. This is what workers and families are dealing with. There are no major supports being delivered in relation to the people who fall into that bracket. It is an abject failing.

I just want to mention what I would say is good news in our house. I have mentioned my son Turlough a number of times before. Turlough is at Ó Fiaich College, which provides great supports. The staff have told me that Turlough has additional needs, and they have learned from him and he has learned from them. He got his junior certificate results and we are absolutely delighted. That is all very positive. Turlough as an individual will be fine and is in a very secure scenario but that cannot be said about everybody, particularly as people go through their lives. We have heard what the Disability Federation of Ireland, DFI, and others have said in relation to disability in the budget and the failure to deliver a cost-of-disability payment. It was done last year as a one-off, when people said it was the first time that they had felt seen and that there had been a recognition of the added cost of disability. It was given with one hand, but a year later, it has been taken away altogether.

This is not to take away from the promises that are being made here. I know we do not have clarity on services and I accept that there are huge levels of service required, from respite to residential services. I would like to know and get some clarity on how people will be better off in the context of assessments and therapies on the basis of what is in here and what is in the national human rights strategy for disabled people, and what the follow-up with the action plan will be. I cannot at this point say that it is clear.

The major failing is that we are talking about a number of people. I will use the words of the DFI chief executive officer, Elaine Teague:

While increased funding for disability services is welcome and long overdue, it will reach only a fraction of over one million disabled people living in Ireland. One in five people unable to work due to disability live in consistent poverty. For them, this Budget means less support and less security. The Government has chosen to highlight big numbers on services while quietly removing the once-off payments that made last year's Budget bearable for disabled people.

The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Dara Calleary, spoke about the strategic focus network, task force or call it what you will, but we need to look at the means by which we look after the cost of disability. We must also make sure the wage subsidy scheme and other schemes are actually fit for purpose to deliver disabled people into employment. We have a long journey to go. As everyone has said at every budget, it is a missed opportunity. For disabled people, however, there is no truer term than that. It is an absolute failure by the Government to deliver on what was an opportunity. It is a continued shame in how we deal with those with disabilities.

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