Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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4. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the commitment to introduce a cost-of-disability payment; the current status of policy development and implementation; the expected timelines for introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31682/26]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Tá mé ag lorg nuachta faoin infheistíocht do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas, go háirithe i mBaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh ach nationally chomh maith leis sin. I would appreciate if the Minister would give me a detailed timeline for the next step for recognising the associated costs for people with disabilities.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste ar son na ndaoine faoi mhíchumas. Gabhaim buíochas leis as a shuim san ábhar seo. Tá sé ráite sa chlár Rialtais go mbeimid ag seasamh le daoine faoi mhíchumas agus go bhfuil muid ag obair go crua air sin. Supporting disabled people is a key priority for this Government. That is why the programme for Government is introducing a number of commitments to improve the position of people with disabilities, including a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. Under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, it was agreed to establish a strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability. This is being led by my Department, but it should, must and does include other Departments as well as disabled people and their advocates.

We have had a series of meetings with a number of organisations, including disabled persons organisations, DPOs, to discuss the structure and content. A public consultation process is also being established on how a cost-of-disability payment can best be achieved. That was launched on Friday, 20 February. It ran for just over six weeks until Tuesday 7 April. I am pleased that there was an exceptional response, with over 1,000 submissions received. Some 87 submissions were from groups and organisations and 12 were from disabled persons organisations and disabled persons representative organisations. Accessible ways to partake were widely used, with almost 60 submissions made over the phone, 20 received by post and seven by video. I thank all of the contributors, including Members in the Chamber, for taking the time to make a submission to the process.

The summit will now be held on Lansdowne Road on 13 May. It will be an in-person event, with online access also available. The summit and the submissions received through the consultation process will help inform the approach to be taken in delivering on our programme for Government commitment.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Táim buíoch as an bhfreagra sin and the continued engagement with my office. I commend the staff in his office for their hard work as well as the Minister himself. What is absolutely clear is that the cost of disability must reflect the reality. In north Dublin in my constituency, we have the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA, the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, and multiple disability organisations. I have been speaking to them about the urgency needed, not just in the winter, but also with transport costs, infrastructure and electricity. I hope that the Government acts on plug-in solar, which will reduce the cost for apartment dwellers, particularly people with no access to rooftops but who could easily access a similar system with a low initial cost. In conjunction with batteries, this would help with electricity costs. We also need to be clear about eligibility. Those who are on disability payments, who are in employment or who are over 65 need to be prioritised.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his input. We will be having the summit on 13 May, which is next Wednesday week. Following the summit and the consultation process, we will be preparing a paper that will outline the key learnings and any tangible outcomes that support how we deliver in this area going forward. I will work with my colleagues in government in relation to a potential proposal around the eligibility for the payment, who should get the payment and how it should be paid. We will have engagement around that with the committee on social protection.

I wish to emphasise that we have made increases this year to the fuel allowance and the weekly rate of disability allowance. Additional needs payments are also available through the community welfare office network. I encourage people to ensure that they have access to those payments and have engaged with the network in respect of them. We have done a lot of work in recent weeks to make information about those payments available to Members of the Oireachtas so that they can pass it on.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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There is real urgency here. I welcome the fact that the Minister is acknowledging that this is needed. The gap is not abstract and it is felt every single week by the people I represent and people across Ireland. The payment would be very meaningful and very well accepted. I look forward to working with the Department and the disability organisations on that.

This does not relate to the Minister's Department, but last night, we saw Irish citizens from my constituency and some of my friends illegally abducted by the Israeli Government. I was part of a previous flotilla. Could that be brought to the Department of foreign affairs, as they were off the coast of Crete in international waters? I know that the Minister cannot act on this in his Department, but I need to highlight it on the floor of this House and do everything I can do. A lot of these people were with me previously.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I have absolutely no doubt that the Department of foreign affairs is fully monitoring that situation. Our thoughts are with all of those Irish citizens this morning and with their families here at home.

Regarding the Deputy's question, the cost of disability and the challenges facing those with disabilities is not solely a matter for the Department of Social Protection. It is essential for transport costs and employment costs - there are other supports from the Department of Health, obviously - that all of those Departments are part of this conversation. That is our intention and our priority as regards both the summit and the paper that will inform decisions. We will be prioritising the cost-of-disability payment from the Department of Social Protection in this year's budget but other Departments are going to have to come to the table as well with supports to allow to people to travel, use medical services, access primary medical certs, avail of motorised transport and deal with the various costs that are there.

A whole-of-government approach is necessary. We will work closely with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and other Ministers in relation to this.