Yesterday I attended a protest outside the gates of Leinster House by disabled people and their advocates and carers. They were there to highlight the desperate situation they are facing due to the lack of support in budget 2026 on the cost of disability. They have been advocating for a cost-of-disability payment for years. It was promised before the last election. They really feel the issue of disability was used during the election to get votes based on false promises of a cost-of-disability payment being introduced. They are facing a situation now of either eating or heating. One man spoke about how he has to consider if he can afford to put on the second bar of his heater in the evening. They talked about the embarrassment of having to go to a food bank.

The Government commissioned a report on the cost of disability which was carried out by Indecon in 2021. It found that the cost to a family with a disabled member was anything from €8,000 to €12,000 a year. They reckon that has increased now to approximately €15,000 in some cases, or more, depending on the complexity of the disability. That report is sitting gathering dust. Nothing has happened to it. It is not the first report on disability that is left gathering dust. What is the point of commissioning these reports, costing thousands or maybe more, when they are not actioned at all? Not only is there no cost-of-disability payment; there are no energy credits, no additional payment for disabled people or carers as was paid out last year. Disabled people want a definite payment. They do not want to be going from budget to budget wondering if they are going to get anything this year to address the cost of living. They welcome any sort of payment at this stage and they really need an emergency payment before the end of the year as they face into the winter. I am asking that this is brought to the attention of the Minister for children and disability, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, without delay. The Leader might say there was a huge investment in services for disabled people in budget 2026 but not all disabled people avail of services. While it is welcome and needed, it is not enough. We need to see a cost-of-disability payment so that people are not living in poverty. That is what they are being forced to do at the moment. They are saying it is not equal treatment.

They are being treated as second-class citizens.