Paul Murphy: Calls budget a 'savage attack' on disabled people
Paul Murphy said the budget was a "savage attack" on disabled people, claiming it took over €1,000 from individuals and broke a pledge to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. He demanded an immediate winter cost-of-living and cost-of-disability payment and urged the Taoiseach not to be "a Scrooge" given billions of euros in surplus.
Paul Murphy told the chamber the budget had cut more than €1,000 from the pockets of disabled people and betrayed the programme for government promise to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. He said 70,000 people who are disabled or have a long-term illness are living in poverty, one in three, and that many had contacted him pleading for support for winter heating and food costs.
Murphy called for a winter cost-of-living and cost-of-disability payment to be paid without delay and reiterated that the cost-of-disability crisis is happening now. He warned many disabled people would be forced to choose between heating and eating this Christmas and urged the government to use surplus funds to act.
The Taoiseach disagreed with the description of the budget as a "savage attack" and set out measures included in the budget: €3 billion invested in special education, €130 million for grants to adapt houses for older people and disabled people, a €10-per-week increase in disability loans, expansion of the wage subsidy scheme, a €375 increase to the income limit for carers benefit, and a €20 increase in monthly domiciliary care loans.
On the specific issue of a permanent cost-of-disability payment, the Taoiseach said the matter would be pursued and that the minister will bring plans in the next budget. The exchange ended with repeated thanks from the chair as the debate moved on.
Budget criticised
Paul Murphy told the chamber the budget had cut more than €1,000 from the pockets of disabled people and betrayed the programme for government promise to introduce a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. He said 70,000 people who are disabled or have a long-term illness are living in poverty, one in three, and that many had contacted him pleading for support for winter heating and food costs.
Immediate demands
Murphy called for a winter cost-of-living and cost-of-disability payment to be paid without delay and reiterated that the cost-of-disability crisis is happening now. He warned many disabled people would be forced to choose between heating and eating this Christmas and urged the government to use surplus funds to act.
Government response and budget measures
The Taoiseach disagreed with the description of the budget as a "savage attack" and set out measures included in the budget: €3 billion invested in special education, €130 million for grants to adapt houses for older people and disabled people, a €10-per-week increase in disability loans, expansion of the wage subsidy scheme, a €375 increase to the income limit for carers benefit, and a €20 increase in monthly domiciliary care loans.
Next steps on cost-of-disability supports
On the specific issue of a permanent cost-of-disability payment, the Taoiseach said the matter would be pursued and that the minister will bring plans in the next budget. The exchange ended with repeated thanks from the chair as the debate moved on.
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Transcript
Your budget was a savage attack on disabled people. It took over €1,000 out of the pockets of disabled people. It betrayed the promise in the programme for government to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment. The last time I asked about this you claimed the cost of disability would be looked at in the next budget. The cost of living crisis is now. The cost of disability crisis is now. There are 70,000 people who are disabled, who have a long-term illness, who are living in poverty, one in three. I have been inundated with emails from disabled people asking for a winter cost of living and cost of disability payment. Many will be forced to choose between heating and eating this Christmas. They also want a permanent cost of disability payment without further delay. Taoiseach, you have billions of euros in surplus. Do not be a Scrooge this Christmas. Please act on it. Deputy Murphy, I would have to disagree if you described the budget as a savage attack, but €3 billion has been invested in special education as an outcome of the budget, €130 million for grants to adapt to houses of older people and disabled people, €10 per week increase in disability loans, expansion of the wage subsidy scheme, €375 increase to the income limit for carers benefit and €20 increase in the monthly domiciliary care loans. That is not a savage attack on disability. On the cost of disability, yes, we do have to pursue that and the Minister will be bringing plans in the next budget in respect of that and that we will be bringing plans in the next budget in respect of that.