Disability Services
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-16
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Emer Higgins (FG), Dublin Mid-West

I thank the Senator. Perhaps the Senator will follow up with me directly in relation to the hydrotherapy and the pool. I will seek an update from HSE as to where that is at. If, as the Senator said, a business case has been approved, I will ask where recruitment is on that particular issue.
I reiterate that the Government’s commitment to strengthening services in order that adults and children with disabilities in Ireland are better supported is clear and is backed up by sustained investment in the disabilities sector. It remains a clear priority with €3.9 billion allocated to the HSE's disability services in this year’s budget. That was a €628 million increase, or a 20% increase, on funding from last year. This level of record investment recognises both the growing demand for services and the complexity of the needs being met and that need to be met. It builds on significant year-on-year investment in recent years, with overall funding for disability services having increased by 91% since 2020. Alongside this funding there is also a strong focus on people, and building and sustaining a workforce that can deliver the supports that families rely on. That is why we are preparing this year’s workforce strategy for disability services.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:03+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-16