Social Welfare Code
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-30
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

I have absolutely no doubt that the Department of foreign affairs is fully monitoring that situation. Our thoughts are with all of those Irish citizens this morning and with their families here at home.
Regarding the Deputy's question, the cost of disability and the challenges facing those with disabilities is not solely a matter for the Department of Social Protection. It is essential for transport costs and employment costs - there are other supports from the Department of Health, obviously - that all of those Departments are part of this conversation. That is our intention and our priority as regards both the summit and the paper that will inform decisions. We will be prioritising the cost-of-disability payment from the Department of Social Protection in this year's budget but other Departments are going to have to come to the table as well with supports to allow to people to travel, use medical services, access primary medical certs, avail of motorised transport and deal with the various costs that are there.
A whole-of-government approach is necessary. We will work closely with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and other Ministers in relation to this.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-30