Cost of disability payment
Deputy Lawless criticised cuts to disability-related payments and said promised future supports do not offset present losses for disabled people. The Minister said work is under way on a cost-of-disability payment and pointed to wider investment in disability, education and social protection supports.
There is a cost to having a disability, which is in the region of €15,000 per year. Despite this, payments to people with disabilities were cut by up to €1,400 in the most recent budget. I asked the Minister on several occasions why these supports were removed. The answer I received indicated that it was because there are further supports coming. When I speak to people with disabilities, they do not see this happening. It is a very curious form of compassion to make cuts today on the basis of promises of supports next year or the year after. The Minister has responsibility for the public purse. I ask him to prioritise people with disabilities. The Government failed them in the context of the budget. This matter was a priority before the general election. The Government has forgotten about that priority. That is a fact. It has removed up to €1,400 in payments from these people. However, it is promising them things for next year and the year after. This payment must be reintroduced.
Comment on this
The Deputy will know that the Minister, Deputy Calleary, has set up a consultation process on a cost-of-disability payment and how that would be structured. We have not had a permanent payment of that sort in the past. We are trying to structure it in the context of negotiations for next year's budget. However, it is not only about direct income support; it is also about improved services. That is why there was a 20% increase in terms of disability service, which the Minister, Deputy Foley, secured. There was increased resourcing for the Department of education. Social protection payments increased significantly as well. Those payments would support some individuals with disabilities.
We are clear on working with the disability stakeholders on designing a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. That work is ongoing in advance of budget 2027. The Government is committed across all areas, including employment overall, the education sector and the Department of disability, on strengthening services and income supports over the period ahead.