I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this important motion on the cost of disability. It is important that the Minister is here to hear what the Opposition has to say about it. The Labour Party has continually raised the ongoing cost-of-living crisis that is affecting many households across Ireland and having a particularly profound impact on those with disabilities and their families who are dealing with the added difficulty of the cost of disability, day in, day out. As we all know in this House - it has already been mentioned tonight - The Cost of Disability in Ireland report by Indecon showed that people with a disability face additional costs of between almost €9,000 and more than €12,000 per year. People living on disability allowance cannot be expected to absorb such massive costs alone. Budget 2026 should have been the budget in which the Government finally implemented the cost-of-disability payment, but it was pushed out again for another year. Given the public consultation on the matter, I sincerely hope the upcoming budget will at least make some progress towards getting this payment into the pockets of those who deserve it most. After the choices the Government made in that budget, disabled people are €1,400 worse off and I have no doubt those costs have increased massively due to the ongoing price rises in fuel, food and rent. In my constituency office, I continue to see the consequences of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's poor decisions. Disabled people and their families are struggling to put food on the table and pay bills. Like many households in Ireland, they are just surviving. Instead of supporting disabled people, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents who support them decided to cut the VAT rate for fast-food chains that are already making millions in profits. This VAT could have funded a new cost-of-disability payment starting at €25 per week, with money left over to do more for disabled people and their families. These are the choices the Government made and they are hurting many in this community. Only a few weeks ago, the Labour Party brought forward a motion for a mini-budget that would undo the terrible budget decisions the Government made, but again, the Government sided with big business, while disabled people, workers and families were left worse off. I counted at least eight commitments to address the cost of disability in the programme for Government, not one of which has been addressed. They include a commitment to extending free travel to children who receive domiciliary care allowance, DCA. Disabled people and their families need to see action from the Government on the ongoing costs they continue to face. The Minister will be familiar with my continued calls to raise the DCA from 16 to 18 years. This because more than 800 parents said in a survey I recently carried out that it is the right thing to do. I could recount many of the reasons people stated that in response to the survey. This is becoming a massive issue for many families. Information I received from the Minister's Department shows that between 2022 and 2025 almost 16% of children were unsuccessful in their applications to move from DCA to disability allowance. That amounts to more than 1,300 children. We must remember that the DCA payment is a payment designed specifically for children who have a severe disability. Yet, I am currently supporting many families of 16-year-olds who are trying to prove they have a disability despite already receiving DCA. This is completely wrong and places emotional strain on families with the constant battle for what they are entitled to. As many of those who have contacted me said, their child's disability did not go away when they turned 16. This is the part they cannot understand. I am currently dealing with a number of cases of people with a disability trying to get to hospital appointments, turning to Alone and other such organisations to see whether they can help. A woman who has spent her lifetime in a wheelchair came to my office recently because she is unable to afford the high cost of a special taxi to attend a regular hospital appointment that is necessary for her quality of life. That is just one example of many I could give here as to why we need a cost of disability payment now and not a promise on a piece of paper. The ongoing cost of disability is placing an immense pressure on disabled people and their families. Government cannot continue to ignore the reality that people are facing. We need to see action from Government to bring down the costs so many households are dealing with, including those for disabled people. The Minister mentioned in his speech that the Government had increased the disability allowance by €10. Is he aware that a number of approved housing bodies where many of those living with a disability are living - and thankfully living - have recently increased their rents? In a surprise move, the AHBs have increased their rents by €10; exactly what the Government gave them in the budget. It is being given with one hand and the approved housing bodies are taking away with the other hand, and those with disabilities are simply no better off. I will finish with an email. I previously highlighted a case of a constituent of mine who has a disability and the ongoing cost of living is putting immense pressure on her and her family. It perfectly sums up the consequence of a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael Government and what it has done to so many people living with a disability. She says: I am not looking for money to go and buy treats. It is just for physio and acupuncture which helps with my pain, diesel money and car parking for regular medical appointments. Tallaght Hospital costs €10 for parking. [The €10 again] Good quality shoes to help me with walking. The daily cost of living is crazy. What can I do so the Government can hear my voice? This is what is happening on the ground. I sincerely hope the Minister will listen to the motion being brought forward by Sinn Féin and that he will withdraw the Government countermotion. These are the people who need our help and they need it now.

Sentiment score: 0.08