Ombudsman ruling on grants for disabled to be breached

The Government must breach an ombudsman ruling that tens of thousands of disabled people are entitled to support payments because the State cannot afford the funds.

Ministers admitted that an extra 77,000 people a year were entitled to disability payments following a ruling by Emily O’Reilly.

However, they said they would have to seriously reduce frontline services and other supports if they adhered to Ms O’Reilly’s ruling.