Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD has announced more than €1 million in funding for new digital and assistive technology projects aimed at supporting people with disabilities. The initiative is designed to assist individuals with sensory, cognitive, physical, and intellectual disabilities, as well as older people facing daily challenges and those living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or dementia.
The funding will provide grants ranging from €75,000 to €200,000 for projects under the Health Service Executive’s Cooperative Real Engagement for Assistive Technology Enhancement (CREATE) initiative. These projects will focus on personal mobility, vision, hearing, communication, and accessibility. Examples of supported technologies include walking devices, voice assistants, smart home devices, interactive sensory equipment, talking pens, and motion sensors.
Minister Foley highlighted the positive impact such technologies have already had on the lives of disabled people, noting that the funding will further improve health, well-being, participation, and inclusion. She emphasized the importance of digital and assistive technology in promoting independence and inclusion, stressing that such innovations are essential tools that many people will rely on at some point in their lives, particularly as they age.
The CREATE initiative is overseen by the National Clinical Programme for People with Disability within the HSE. Minister of State for Disability Hildegarde Naughton underlined the transformative potential of assistive technology, saying it can empower individuals to participate fully in society and help integrate inclusive solutions into health and social care systems. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing access to assistive technology in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Dr. Rosemary Gowran, HSE Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for People with Disability, added that CREATE III will focus on strengthening local systems and advancing sustainability in assistive technology services through practice, innovation, education, and training.
This announcement follows two earlier phases of the CREATE programme. In 2022, CREATE I received €2 million to support 11 projects, while CREATE II in 2023 allocated €750,000 to continue existing initiatives and fund nine new ones. These projects have provided wide-ranging support, including alternative communication tools for people with speech difficulties, assistive technology clinics run by multidisciplinary teams, and the integration of assistive technology into libraries and training platforms, ultimately enhancing services for both children and adults with disabilities.
