Cost-of-disability payment a priority for 2026, says social protection minister

Dara Calleary said he wanted to see a budget proposal provided to him before the summer

Dara Calleary said there would be regular meetings between his department and disability organisations, with a particular focus on one-on-one meetings. Picture: Conor McKeown

Introducing a new so-called cost-of-disability payment is a key priority for Budget 2027, social protection minister Dara Calleary has said.

Mr Calleary said work is already under way, with meetings between the Department of Social Protection and disabled persons’ organisations on how it could work taking place in early December. The Government agreed for the first time in 2021 that there are extra costs to having a disability. The cost-of-disability payment refers to the extra expenses that disabled people must factor in every year, with up to €15,000 incurred by some.