Budget 2027 must give disabled people real choice

Investing more effort and money into employment for people with disabilities would help so many people, writes Tomás Murphy

People with disabilities are only allowed to work a certain amount of hours, and if they go over that, they lose benefits like their medical card and their travel pass. File photo

My name is Tomás Murphy, and I’m a person with an intellectual disability. I'm co-chairperson of the board of directors of Inclusion Ireland.

The cost-of-living crisis is hitting people with disabilities hard, and I don’t think the Government is doing enough to support us.

A lot of extra costs come with having a disability. The disability allowance is not enough for people to live day-to-day — the payment is low and the cost of living is high.

People with disabilities are only allowed to work a certain amount of hours, and if they go over that, they lose benefits like their medical card and their travel pass.

I work two days a week in A&L Goodbody. I love my job. People with disabilities can be employed, we just need more opportunities.

This is an area where I think the Government should be doing more. Investing more effort and money into employment for people with disabilities would help so many people.

I'd like to see a change that allows people to work and keep their benefits. This would allow more disabled people to have a better quality of life.

Like a lot of other disabled adults, I’m currently living at home with my mum, but I am hoping to move out and live independently in the future.

My name is down on the housing list in my local council but I don't know where I am on the housing list, so I just have to wait for my turn.

I'd love to have my own apartment and live independently but that is not an option for me right now.

Tomás Murphy: 'Like a lot of other disabled adults, I’m currently living at home with my mum, but I am hoping to move out and live independently in the future.'

The Government needs to change the system from the very start. The forms are not really accessible for people with intellectual disabilities. That prevents people from even applying in the first place.

The Government also needs to think practically how can we design houses for people with disabilities and what way can people with disabilities live? And they need to consult people with disabilities as well.

What is your dream home? What would you like? How do you think we can change the system? These are the questions the government should be asking.

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They need to include people themselves and talk to people about what way they want to live. It's all about having the choice.

People with disabilities deserve choice; the choice to live independently, the choice to go to work, the choice to have an education, the choice to live their lives to the full.

It's important that we all have the choice to be independent.

The Government need to ask people with disabilities, “what would your choice be?”. I think there is more and more awareness about disabilities in society, but we can always do better.

For now, we have to keep advocating and keep the pressure on government.