TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN said the government is moving towards establishing a “cost of disability” payment, following a summit today.

The Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit, held today at the Aviva Stadium, saw over 1,000 submissions from organisations on the cost of disability.

Martin, who was in attendance with Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary, said that a cabinet subcommittee and a unit within the Department of An Taoiseach “in respect of disability issues”.

He declined to confirm whether there will definitely be an additional payment for disabled people in the budget, but said that it was a “key target in terms of our budget negotiations”.

However, he stopped short of committing to a specific figure, saying the priority is to “establish the principle, and indeed a mechanism, to try and bring this to the point of action”.

He indicated the proposal could begin to take shape in Budget 2027, though he stressed it remains subject to negotiations with other departments.

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Children Norma Foley Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Speaking today on Morning Ireland, Calleary said the estimated cost of having a disability was between €15,200 and €15,500 a year.

Martin also pointed to wider disability-related spending, including mobility supports, respite care and education provision, as part of the government’s overall approach.

Earlier this year, disability rights campaigners staged a protest calling for the instatement of an emergency €400 payment for disabled people and carers.

The Disability Federation of Ireland said following the last year’s budget that although it welcomed additional investment in disability services, the government had removed one-off payments that made Budget 2025 “bearable” for people with disabilities.