“It was time for a budget that prioritises the dignity, rights, and potential of people with disabilities by supporting true independent living through PAs and community-based supports—empowering them to thrive, not just survive” says Aontú election candidate Michael O'Dowd, who is also co-founder of Equality Not Care which successfully campaigned against the government's Care referendum proposal earlier this year.

“Once again, they have got it wrong by placing the burden of support on families and carers instead of enabling people with disabilities to live independent lives on an equal basis with non-disabled people.

“The measures announced, such as the €12 increase in the disability allowance and one-off payments, offer short-term relief but ignore the true cost of living with a disability—estimated to be up to €11,734 annually according to the government’s own 2021 Indecon report.

“Instead of addressing this with a non-means-tested cost of disability payment and adequate funding for Personal Assistance (PA) services, the focus remains on outdated models like institutional and residential care.

“This approach reinforces dependency and undermines the autonomy of disabled people who need PAs to live independently and participate fully in society. By neglecting to invest in PA supports, the government is failing to provide disabled people with the tools they need to control their own lives and engage in work, education, and community activities.

“This disregard not only contradicts Ireland’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), but also perpetuates a system where disabled people are reliant on family resources or confined to institutional settings.”