Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader clash over Cost of Disability payments

Mary Lou McDonald claimed the Government had made a “cruel decision” in October’s budget that left disabled people €1,400 'worse off'

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media during the count for the Dublin Central by-election at the RDS, Dublin. Picture: Conor O Mearain/PA Wire

The Taoiseach has defended the Government’s record on disability during a heated exchange with Mary Lou McDonald about Cost of Disability payments.

During Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday, the Sinn Féin leader claimed the Government had made a “cruel decision” in October’s budget that left disabled people €1,400 “worse off”.

The party on Tuesday brought forward a motion calling for two financial measures for people with disabilities; an emergency €500 payment and the immediate introduction of a permanent Cost of Disability scheme.

The Government put forward an amendment which outlined its plans to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment in the future.

Ms McDonald described the amendment as an “insult to disabled people”.

She said: “It is consultation after consultation for you, report after report, when you know exactly what the issues are, what needs to be done, and yet you tell disabled people to wait.” 

Micheál Martin responded saying the last budget saw one of the “largest ever in disability services, up to 20% of an increase”.

He described Ms McDonald’s characterisation of the Government’s handling of Cost of Disability payments as “disingenuous”.

He added: “It is not that simple. We are looking at a potential one million people who identify with a disability in the census, that’s about 22% of the population.” 

He said Dara Calleary, the social protection minister, is holding a “significant” public consultation.

“This is a significant initiative, it is a complex one, it is better we do this in a targeted way that those most in need will avail of and benefit from it,” Mr Martin said.

The Taoiseach said Mr Calleary will bring forward a paper in July in respect of a Cost of Disability payment scheme, arising out of the consultation, and that would be assessed ahead of the next budget.

He also said the last budget prioritised “permanent structural supports” and also increased core rates “significantly”.

Ms McDonald said the Taoiseach seemed “singularly unable to acknowledge the real experience of disabled people who are telling you and have told you for quite some time that they are struggling financially”.

Mr Martin replied: “I recognise the issues facing people with disabilities.

“The first thing I did in Government was to set up a special disabilities unit within my department to prioritise and to drive delivery of services and to improve them in every single Government department in a whole of Government approach.”