Louth TD says people with disabilities worse off by an estimated €1,400.

People living with disabilities have been failed by the government at budget time, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil during a Sinn Féin motion on the cost of disability.

The Dundalk TD, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, was at the forefront of the charge against budget, which left people with disabilities worse off than they were last year by an estimated €1,400.

Deputy Ó Murchú invited a number of disability advocacy groups to the Dáil last week to hear the debate and said that in last year’s budget, there was a recognition of the cost if disability, but those payments have not materialised again this year”.

He said: “On average, the cost of disability was found to be between €9,482 and €11,734.

“Sinn Féin has put forward a very straightforward proposal. I would like to think that the Government will not only not oppose this motion but will support it and will see the wrong done to those with a disability, who have a huge level of costs and huge difficulties we cannot even imagine. I would like to think we would look at meeting them halfway.

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“We really need to look at a lump-sum payment for those with disabilities. We also need to look at a cost-of-disability payment and an increase of at least €20 to disability-related social welfare payments. That is just a start”.

He also read out some statements, compiled by the Disability Federation from those living with disabilities: 'We are more reliant than ever on our families and our independence is being eroded more and more. This is not because of our disability. This is because we need to address the cost of living and the cost of living with a disability.

'I am receiving a disability payment and the household benefit package. The money received from both these payments is inadequate.

'I have to attend a food bank weekly, and apart from it being demoralising, it is a necessity to survive. Simply, the word saving does not apply to me, as I simply have nothing left over. I know the cold, long winter nights are only around the corner and it scares me to think about it.'