Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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90. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will introduce a cost of disability lump sum payment in the run up to Christmas, to reduce the impact of the increased cost of living on disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62271/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment. Our Programme for Government commitments will be advanced over the lifetime of the Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context.

Government has been very clear that there would be no once-off measures in this year’s Budget. We are at the start of a five-year programme for Government and not everything can be done in year one.

We know that addressing the cost of disability is not a question of income support alone. The delivery of and access to services are also key. We need all of the Departments and agencies of Government to work together to address the issue in a comprehensive way.

That is why the Taoiseach set up a Cabinet Committee on Disability and a dedicated programme office within his own Department.

In addition, the recently published National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 takes a whole-of-Government approach and includes a commitment to establish a Strategic Focus Network on the Cost of Disability, led by my Department.

The work of this network, which will include people with disabilities and their advocates, will inform the approach we will be taking in delivering on this Programme for Government commitment. Officials in my Department have started to have meetings with stakeholder groups with a view to bringing a proposal to Government in the first half of next year.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.