Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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595. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures in place to protect funding for disability services in the event of a fiscal downturn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9364/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Whilst my Department has responsibility for investment in and oversight of specialist services for people with a disability in Ireland, it is the Minister for Finance, in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, who sets the parameters of the Budget each year. Despite our differing roles and responsibilities, all three government departments are aligned in our collective commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities as a core area within the Programme for Government. In addition, the Programme for Government clearly states that in the event of an economic downturn and unexpected deterioration in the public finances, we would work to protect the funding of existing level of public service delivery.

My Department provides an annual allocation to the HSE, from within the Budget provided to me, to support the maintenance of existing levels of service for specialist disability services and to expand service delivery to meet demand through funding for new development measures.

Between 2020 and 2025, over €15.2bn was allocated to the HSE to deliver specialist disability services. Most recently, a total of €3.2bn was allocated for disability services in Budget 2025. This amounts to an 11.5% increase in funding on last year and represents an overall increase of €1.2bn since 2020. Of the €333m in additional funding in 2025, €290m was allocated to maintain existing levels of service for people with disabilities. This is a significant provision which recognises the challenges prevailing in the sector including the increased cost of service provision, pay cost pressures and service provider sustainability.

Finally, my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, will always strive to ensure disability services are delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible to ensure maximum benefit from the significant Exchequer resources being invested in this important area. In that context, my Department is working closely with the HSE to develop a better understanding of service costs and the drivers of costs in order that we can make strong data-driven cases for investment in the sector.