I thank the Social Democrats for tabling the motion. We fully support it. People with disabilities face extra costs every day. These are costs they cannot avoid. When winter hits, the pressure becomes even greater, especially with heating and energy bills rising again. Right now, households across the country are under serious strain. Energy costs are still one of the biggest drivers of hardship. For disabled people, those costs do not just stay the same when prices go up; they get worse. The supports they rely on do not stretch far enough and the bills keep climbing. That is why we support what the motion is seeking, namely targeted and practical help that people can feel the impact of straight away. A once-off winter payment would be direct and focused and would go to people who are carrying unavoidable extra burdens. The Government keeps saying it wants to target the resources. Here is a clear opportunity to do exactly that . It should not stop at one payment. We need to move away from those ad hoc crisis-driven reactions and finally put in place a proper permanent support framework that reflects the real documented cost of living with a disability in this country. If the Government will not back a once-off payment now, at the very least it should publish a clear timeline for permanent measures. People do not need headlines about proposals; they need a date, decisions and delivery. This is not an abstract policy debate. Across Cork, Limerick, Galway and Roscommon, families are asking the same questions: "Where is the support coming from and when is it coming?". We will back any measures that ease pressures this winter and we will keep pushing for permanent solutions.

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