Ireland’s Taoiseach, Michael Martin TD, has published the Budget 2026: Spotlight on Disability report, marking a renewed government focus on disability issues. The report was prepared by the newly established Disability Unit within the Department of the Taoiseach, which was created to bring greater urgency, coordination, and accountability to disability policy across government.
The report outlines new and enhanced disability-related measures introduced in Budget 2026 that support the implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030. It highlights that the budget places a strong emphasis on investment in both disability-specific and mainstream services as part of a broader rights-based approach to inclusion and participation.
Budget 2026 includes a significant increase in funding for disability services, with a 20 per cent rise aimed at improving the sustainability of the sector and enhancing service delivery for both children and adults. The report also notes a record allocation for special education, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening educational supports for disabled learners.
In addition to service investment, the budget introduces a range of social protection measures designed to support households affected by disability. These include increases in weekly payment rates, targeted employment supports, and changes to income disregards for carers, all intended to reduce financial pressure and improve access to work and supports.
The report describes Budget 2026 as an initial step in delivering the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People, with future budgets expected to build on this foundation. The long-term aim is to ensure that disabled people are supported and empowered to participate fully in their communities and in society more broadly.
The Disability Unit will play a central role in coordinating this work across government. Its first programme plan sets out how it will drive implementation of the new disability strategy, ensuring that policy commitments translate into practical outcomes. Alongside budget measures, recent progress supported by the unit includes further reforms to improve disability services, particularly for children, the establishment of a new Education Therapy Service for special schools from 2026, and improvements to the Assessment of Need process for children and families.
Commenting on the report, the Taoiseach emphasized the government’s determination to deliver meaningful change for disabled people and their families. He described Budget 2026 as the beginning of a longer-term effort, stressing that continued engagement with disabled people will be central to meeting the commitments set out in the national disability strategy.
