The government\u2019s latest promise to introduce a cost of disability payment next year must be more than just another vague commitment or delaying tactic, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide.<\/p>\n
Deputy Quaide, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on disability, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe latest commitment on this issue from Disability Minister Emer Higgins must be followed by clear timelines setting out when this badly needed payment will be introduced.<\/p>\n
\u201cA cost of disability payment to acknowledge the additional financial burden of living with a disability has long been talked about \u2013 and was even included in the programme for government \u2013 but has been endlessly delayed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe need for a cost of disability payment was identified as far back as 2004. That principle was reaffirmed in the State-commissioned Indecon report, published in 2021, so the evidence has been there for over two decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgainst this backdrop, it is deeply frustrating to hear Minister Higgins speak in vague terms of her \u2018hopes\u2019 to see a cost of disability payment included in the next budget. The reality is that disabled people are struggling right now \u2013 talking about future plans does not put food on the table, pay energy bills, or cover the cost of transport, equipment, or personal assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government had an opportunity in the most recent budget to act immediately by introducing a cost of disability payment. Not only did it not do so, it also stripped away other supports, resulting in disabled people being an average of \u20ac1,400 worse off this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore Christmas, the government also failed to act on a call by a coalition of disability organisations to introduce an emergency \u20ac400 winter cost of disability payment. Such a modest, targeted measure would have acknowledged the very real increase in heating and energy costs faced by disabled people during the winter months. Ignoring this request was a conscious political choice, which has had real consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Social Democrats had called for a \u20ac20 per week cost of disability payment as a first step to addressing the significant cost of having a disability. We also proposed an extra \u20ac15 per week in Disability Allowance. Combined, these measures would have increased disabled people\u2019s incomes by over \u20ac1,800 a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, we had proposed a payment of \u20ac400 in targeted energy credits aimed at vulnerable households.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must be no further delays. Instead of offering more vague commitments, the government needs to act decisively to end the social exclusion and poverty experienced by so many disabled people in Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
January 5, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The government\u2019s latest promise to introduce a cost of disability payment next year must be more than just another vague commitment or delaying tactic, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on disability, said: \u201cThe latest commitment on this issue from Disability Minister Emer Higgins must be followed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[499,652,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disability","category-liam-quaide","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n