Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-27
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

Ar dtús báire, ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Tá an-chuid déanta againn. Gan amhras, tá i bhfad níos mó le déanamh againn maidir le daoine le míchumas. Tagraím don infheistíocht atá curtha isteach againn, go háirithe sa cháinaisnéis anuraidh. Ba é an méadú is mó riamh in aon cháinaisnéis.
The investment in disability has been very strong. The last budget saw one of the largest ever increases in disability services, up to 20% of an increase, which is significant and is having an impact, in particular in terms of service providers who are providing services to people with disabilities.
In respect of the cost of disability, the Deputy is being somewhat disingenuous by pretending it is one consultation after another, the process is simple and the Government should just go and do it. It is not that simple. There could be over 1 million people who identify with a disability in the census, about 22% of the population. One can go through all of the various age categories. It is not that simple. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, as the Deputy knows, organised a significant public consultation which has received a significant number of responses.
I attended the strategic focus network summit on the cost of disability on 13 May. It brought together all of the key stakeholders to share perspectives and inform our approach. This is a significant and complex initiative. It is better that we do this in a structured and targeted way so that those most in need will avail of and benefit from it.
It is not just a once-off payment. That will not work on a sustainable basis
Work is under way now to bring together all of the views and evidence. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, will bring forward a paper in July in respect of the cost of disability payment arising out of all of that consultation. We will then assess that in the context of the Estimates for decisions in the next budget. As I said, the previous budget deliberately prioritised permanent structural supports that will endure in five and ten years' time. The core rates went up significantly. Child support payments went up dramatically again. For any child over 12, it went up by €16, to €78 a week, and for anybody under 12, it went up by €8, to €58 a week. There has been a sustained increase in child support payments over the last number of years.
On education, Deputy McDonald is deliberately ignoring the dramatic increases in resources in education in terms of special needs assistants, special education teachers and also classes.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-27