'Our messaging is fact': Disability groups hit back at minister over 'food or heating' claims

The social protection minister said: 'I do not want a misleading and dangerous message to go out that people must choose between food and heating.'

A demonstration outside Leinster House in December by the Disability Coalition warning of the 'heating vs. eating' crisis where it was highlighted that Budget 26 left disabled people €1400 worse off. File photo: Gareth Chaney

Disability groups have hit back at claims by the social protection minister that people with disabilities are not having to choose between food or heating their homes.

Mr Calleary was speaking during a private member's motion on the emergency winter payment for disabled people, brought by the Social Democrats.

He pointed to existing welfare payments such as the heat supplement and additional needs payment, indicating these should be enough.

“We have to be very careful not to frighten people by putting out messages about people having to choose between food or heating their homes,” he said.

“I do not want a misleading and dangerous message to go out that people must choose between food and heating. I will ask my officials to again engage with the organisations to point out the supports and contact points available.” 

People with disabilities have called for an emergency payment this winter to cover essential costs. They said the sudden dropping of one-off payments has left them without supports.

Dara Calleary: 'We have to be very careful not to frighten people by putting out messages about people having to choose between food or heating their homes' File picture: Niall Carson/PA

“Our messaging is fact, Dara Calleary,” said the Irish Wheelchair Association, with other groups also expressing frustration that their fears have been dismissed.

A member of the association, who did not want to be named, said: “Heating, even though a necessity, is more of a luxury in my house because of the cost of food and electric. I only turn the heat on for an hour or an hour-and-a-half in the evening."

The woman, based in Tipperary, added: “We’re having to cut necessities. It’s not much of a life when you’re worrying about having the lights on or having the heat on or about whether you can have a dinner in the evening."

A spokeswoman for the association said they still see people struggling financially and who are “having to choose between basic necessities” this winter. “We will not give up this fight,” she said.

The Disability Federation of Ireland said there is "a struggle for survival".

A spokesperson said: “Disabled people don’t need lectures on messaging, they need the emergency winter payment.” 

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A coalition of disability groups has called for an emergency payment of €400 for winter, in advance of any more long-term decisions.

Michael Meere, an advocate with the Disability Federation of Ireland, lives with multiple disabilities since a motorbike crash and two later bicycle accidents.

He said:

Heating is a major thing I’m suffering with at the moment in time. And the actual truth of it is, in my situation it’s heat or eat. I have to differentiate which I’m going to do.

Long-time disability advocate Margaret Kennedy, who has a rare neuromuscular disease and is a wheelchair user, said she was not surprised by Mr Calleary's comments.

“We’ve always been perceived as liars,” she said. 

Mr Calleary will launch a public consultation on his previous pledge to consider a disability payment for Budget 2027. The department will “lead a cross-government strategic focus summit on the cost of disability” this year, he added.