The Disability Federation of Ireland has said that while it welcomes the €619m increase in funding for disability services, the Budget overall represents a devastating setback for disabled people unable to work.
In a statement, DFI acknowledged that the new funding will strengthen services, including additional investment in residential and day supports, respite provision, assessments of need for children and extra hours for home support and personal assistance. The organisation also recognised the progress on pay parity for staff working in the sector, describing it as important and overdue.
However, it said that the majority of disabled people in Ireland do not access those services and will see little benefit from the additional investment.
"While increased funding for disability services is welcome and long overdue, it will reach only a fraction of the over one million disabled people living in Ireland," said DFI CEO Elaine Teague.
"One in five people unable to work due to disability live in consistent poverty. For them, this Budget means less support and less security. The Government has chosen to highlight big numbers on services while quietly removing the once-off payments that made last year's Budget bearable for disabled people. That is unacceptable," added Ms Teague.
The disability allowance will rise by €10 to €254 per week from January 2026.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said a dedicated unit has been established in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to lead a full review of Ireland's disability service model.
"This unit will work hand-in-hand with disabled people, their families, and representative organisations to shape a long-term vision for services to 2030," Minister Chambers said.
Labour criticises absence of cost of disability payment
Labour criticised what it said is a lack of support for disabled people in today's Budget.
The party’s spokesperson for disability, Senator Laura Harmon, said: "Labour’s Alternative Budget 2026 included a Cost of Disability payment starting at €25 a week. This would work to offset the costs incurred when accessing disability services.
"The Cost of Disability payment is something that has been recommended to Government by countless advocacy groups across the island. It is saddening that today they have chosen the easy way out, leaving disabled people to carry the burden of this broken system.
"The combination of neglecting to introduce the recommended Cost of Disability payment and the lack of one-off payments will hit the disabled community hard," added Ms Harmon.
However, the Minister for Social Protection defended the disability measures in this year's Budget.
Speaking at a media briefing in Government Buildings, Dara Calleary said: "We're looking at the Programme for Government commitment to introduce disability support payments. I set up, as part of the unified strategy on disability, a group to look [at] what that may look like.
"We're going to be meeting at the end of October, but earlier if needed, to bring in proposals for Budget 2027.
He said it wasn't possible to do it this year but he said he is "very focused on that for next year".
"I also point to a €600m increase in the Disability Budget. The focus this year went very much on services... they are not where we want them to be. And I think that funding increase in disability represents a step change, also in terms of the disability support package," he said.
The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) described the lack of provision for a permanent cost of disability payment in the Budget as "utterly disappointing".
Coupled with the loss of one-off payments this year, the IWA said that people with disabilities will be €1,614 worse off, pushing many further into poverty.
The association’s national advocacy manager Joan Carthy said people are being forced to make choices on whether they eat or keep warm.
"We have advocated for a permanent disability payment over stop-gap temporary measures but to have neither in this Budget is a huge blow, and a real cause for concern."
Minister of State for Disability Hildegarde Naughton said that the Department was coming from a low funding base in the area of disability, and the ambition in this Budget was to set the base to build from this over the next five budgets.
"I'm happy, it's a really positive starting point," she said, adding that there's a huge demand on disability services, especially in school settings.
She said that this Budget was not about once-off payments, rather permanent targeted measures to help those who need it most.
