Louth TD highlights 'urgent need’ for cost of disability social welfare payment

There is an ‘urgent need’ for a cost of disability social welfare payment as ‘horror stories’ of people with disabilities having to choose between food and bills have emerged this winter, Louth Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.

The Dundalk TD was speaking during questions to the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, following a presentation by several disability groups in Leinster House last week.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: “We heard a whole pile of horror issues and, in fairness, the Irish Wheelchair Association, Access for All Ireland and the Disability Federation of Ireland have done really good work in putting this idea out there and making sure that people are aware of the need for a cost-of-disability payment.

“I think it was summed up in some of the documentation provided, including the comment that, some weeks, it is a toss-up between food or bills because there is nothing left. That is just the reality that people with disabilities are living with. 

“We all accept there is an added cost. It is all well and good speaking about how we are not going to offer one-off payments, but they previously had been getting payments of up to €1,400. That has been stripped away from them”.

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Deputy Ó Murchú said a €400 emergency winter cost of disability payment and energy credits for those on disability payments are urgently needed.

He said: “This is all imperfect. The piece of work that has been done should have been done earlier as regards reviewing what a cost-of-disability payment should look like and who should get it. 

“That work needs to happen as soon as possible. The fact is there needs to be a payment now for people with disabilities who are under severe pressure.

In response, Minister Calleary said: “I am certainly aware of the pressures that people with disabilities are under. Nobody has an exclusive right in relation to that understanding. 

“That is why we want a permanent payment, one that is shared and the design of which is agreed by those with disabilities and their advocates.

That is why we are engaging in this process already ahead of budget 2027. Within my Department, I have made it very clear that this is my priority for budget 2027. 

“There will be further engagements next week in relation to the cost-of-disability payment to a permanent cost-of-disability payment and that is not one from year-to-year, depending on budgetary context. This will be a permanent payment but it is one the design of which will be shared with people with disabilities and their advocates”.