Disability groups challenge Government to 'show me the money' in budget

Derval McDonagh, CEO of Inclusion Ireland, said: 'Our community is not looking for short-term fixes; we demand long-term thinking and ambition from our leaders.' Picture: Karl Hussey Photography

Will this year's budget translate general election promises on disability services into cold hard cash? 

Disability groups have essentially said 'show me the money' to Government in a series of pre-budget submissions this week. 

Inclusion Ireland represents people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Its data shows social welfare supports do not match the needs of 66% of adults with an intellectual disability, so it wants core disability payments raised above the poverty threshold.

One in four families said their child received no early intervention therapies. This needs investment in children’s disability network teams (CDNTs), the submission recommended.

CEO Derval McDonagh said: “Our community is not looking for short-term fixes; we demand long-term thinking and ambition from our leaders.”

Its survey of 1,000 people identified “significant gaps” between people’s lived experiences and what the State is obliged to provide under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Disability Federation of Ireland referred back to the programme for government promise of “a step change in the supports and services required by people with disabilities". The federation’s campaign call is “deliver the step change”.

It also argued for an increase in core social protection rates to reflect the true cost of living with a disability.

The Disability Federation of Ireland said councils should be funded to make sure 7.5% of all new housing is suitable for wheelchair users.

The CDNTs need at least 75 extra full-time therapists and staff, it said. It also called for more assessment of need funding. 

Councils should be funded to make sure 7.5% of all new housing is suitable for wheelchair users.

The federation pointed out the voluntary charity sector delivers over 70% of disability services here. This needs sustainable, multi-annual funding it said.

As I Am, Ireland’s autism charity, focused on strategies and policies already in existence but in need of funding to roll-out fully. It called for resourcing of the Autism Innovation Strategy.

It echoed calls for a weekly cost of disability payment, and also recommended a 10% increase in disability, carers, and domiciliary care allowances.

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CEO Adam Harris, brother to Tánaiste Simon Harris, said: “Budget 2026 must confront the uncomfortable reality that our systems are failing autistic people, from year-long waits for services to social exclusion and financial strain."

Norma Foley, minister for children, disability and equality and Hildegarde Naughton, junior minister for disability will soon be sitting in on heated budget discussions.

They now have a shopping list prepared by people directly impacted by the reality of disability. 

Can they deliver the money is the question.