Social Welfare Payments
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-26
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Peter Roche (FG), Galway East

Many people living with rare diseases fall between multiple systems - health, disability and social protection. Approximately one in 17 people will live with a rare disease during their lifetime and, in many cases, these conditions are lifelong, disabling and involve frequent hospitalisations with one parent or carer leaving their employment entirely, yet many of these individuals struggle to qualify for disability supports, domiciliary care allowance or long-term illness-related benefits because assessment criteria were designed around the more typical disabilities and predictable conditions.
Has the Minister examined whether the existing social protection systems are appropriate for people with rare diseases, and will he consider additional tailored supports, including assessment flexibility or a dedicated pathway to reflect the unique financial or caring burdens faced by their families?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-26