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colleagues, Deputies Quaide and Hayes, for bringing this motion forward. Politics is all about choices. This Government made a choice in the budget to cut payments for people with a disability while it gave a VAT cut of €390 million to investor funds and developers. Right now, disabled … heating, food, and charging mobile equipment and wheelchairs, yet the Government refuses to implement our very straightforward proposal for a €400 emergency payment. It has the budget surplus. Why will it not ensure disabled people can turn on their heat this winter without worry or fear? The Taoiseach

Mental Health Commission’s thematic report on mental health and our emergency departments. The Government welcomed the report, and I again thank the commission for its work. The measures I have funded in budget 2026 directly address the issues raised. They follow detailed discussions with executive clinical directors … expand them to all model 3 hospitals in future budgets, starting with next year's budget. A crucial part of this model is ensuring dedicated mental health assessment rooms in emergency departments, and Deputies have spoken to that tonight. While most hospitals have such a space, an audit

annum. Their ask is that they need, at the very least, an emergency winter payment now. The Minister is claiming he has responded to that with the original budget, which is where the cuts were made in the first place. Disabled people are responding to the budget … arrears on their utility bills. It is a very simple ask for an emergency payment now. Disabled people cannot wait for this process. They cannot wait for the next budget

almost €15,000 a year when indexed link to inflation, yet instead of easing that burden, budget 2026 cut disabled people's incomes by an estimated €1,400. The €400 emergency winter payment being called for today would provide some immediate relief to those who need it most … would cost €124 million, which is half the amount of money wasted on the budget giveaway to developers for apartments that are already built. It is unfortunate that we need to deliver this emergency assistance that disabled people urgently deserve now. I urge the Government to allocate this

more reliant than ever on their families and their independence is being eroded. In our alternative budget, the Social Democrats proposed an extra €15 per week in disability allowance, an emergency €400 winter cost-of-disability payment, and a permanent cost-of-disability support payment. In the Government

because we have really good teams in place in emergency departments but we always have that issue out of hours, which can be very difficult. I will continue to expand the model 3 hospitals in next year’s budget. As a result of not being able to fund … lived experience. It is an alternative to having to present to the emergency department, which is really important. I am very familiar with the SCANs and have built the scheme incrementally in all six budgets since coming into my role. I recently visited Donegal where we have

that? The elderly, children and people with disabilities have repeatedly called on the Government to implement an emergency winter payment to offset the effects of the austerity budget of last year. It is time for the Government and the regulator to tackle this issue head on. The Government

payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment"; — the Government has failed to deliver any such permanent payment, and instead delivered a Budget which cut the incomes of disabled people and left them worse off; and — as a result of the Government cutting their incomes, disabled people … disabled people of falling into poverty and deprivation; and — an emergency €400 winter payment is affordable and fiscally sustainable, given the cost of the measure, €124 million, amounts to a small portion of the budget surplus last year, which was even larger than the Government forecasted; and calls

particularly significant for mental health where, as we have noted, emergency department and hospital-based services are often not the most appropriate setting for people in distress. Building on this progress to date, in budget 2026, we are making real practical investments to help people in crisis when … emergency departments or hospital wards in need of both physical and mental help, including individuals experiencing eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thoughts. These services play a crucial role in ensuring people receive the right mental health support when they need it most. As part of budget

Taoiseach should be defending it. He should withdraw it and apologise for it. The Taoiseach has not even once acknowledged that the budget has cut the incomes of disabled people by €1,400 and he has not once acknowledged the very real hardship that causes for disabled people … been calling for once-off measures; we have said we need permanent solutions. This emergency winter payment is because the Government did not bring in a permanent solution in the budget. Will the Taoiseach acknowledge the hardship the Government has caused? Will he admit it was wrong

home. The Minister said these empty words while announcing that the Government will tonight vote against the Social Democrats motion to introduce an emergency €400 winter payment for disabled people. This would be a modest first step to help disabled people get through winter until a proper cost … Leaders' Questions a couple of weeks ago: While the Government speaks of future plans, reviews and budgets yet to come, disabled people are already living with the consequences of inaction. The emergency winter payment campaign exists because people are being forced to choose between heating and food, cancelling

percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring-fenced in respect of any emergency applications which might arise under these schemes during the course of the year. Budget 2026 provides an increase of €30 million for the scheme, with almost €130 million in Exchequer funding available

worth noting – I always try to make this point when we are talking about this issue – that in the context the same budget in which the Government took such a cruel approach to disabled people, Google walked in the front door of the Department of Finance … into poverty. The Government must give an emergency winter payment to combat the hardship disabled people are facing today. After that, we must implement a permanent and decent cost-of-disability support payment, as we have included in our budgets for multiple years in a row. The people

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce an emergency winter payment for disabled people to compensate them for the cuts imposed on them in the Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2795/26

situation where that is exactly what is happening? They voted through a budget that cuts the income of disabled people by €1,400. When there is a modest proposal for an emergency winter payment to take some of the pain out of that, for just €400 per person

pressure, budget 2026 is leaving disabled people €1,400 worse off than the previous year. That is indefensible. In the Social Democrats alternative budget, we put forward fair and achievable proposals, including a permanent cost-of-disability payment alongside a €15 weekly increase in disability allowance. Taken together … emergency winter payment of €400 for disabled people and we are doing so again today. We actually agree with the Government that targeted cost-of-living measures are needed for groups most vulnerable to poverty, but the Government failed to take that opportunity in the recent budget

critical. In 2025 the council budgeted €2.4 million to support older people and people with disabilities to remain safely in their homes yet the allocation fell far short of what was required. That forced the council to seek an emergency top-up payment of over

there are billions of euro in budget surpluses. The Government could afford to do this. It would be fiscally sustainable. The Government's decision is cruel and regressive. I will ask the Taoiseach again. Will the Government now introduce an emergency payment for disabled people? They are asking

emerged this morning at the meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts that there had been a significant overspend on an IT system for SUSI grants, which has now cost almost three times the originally budgeted figure of €2.2 million. The Comptroller and Auditor General drew attention

state of emergency. Funding has stagnated and reform has stalled. What plans does the Minister of State and the Government have to address the mental health crisis in County Wexford? I know all about Waterford and the overall budget, but the money does not appear to be going

Government has a clear policy here about the need for the right care in the right place at the right time. Oftentimes, emergency departments are not the best setting for a person to present in a mental health crisis. It is already a chaotic environment and there … present. They need to know the State is right there beside them. It is important to look at what happened in the budget. It was a major step forward. It included 300 additional mental health staff and more than €15 million ring-fenced for crisis supports and suicide

election time when it suits them. The Minister stated that the Government will consider a cost-of-disability payment in next year's budget. How can he seriously suggest that people with disabilities should have to wait for a year - spend a full year in poverty - and then … call on the Government not only to support this motion but to act on it and ensure it provides an emergency cost-of-disability payment as soon as possible

their income decreased by €1,400 per year? TDs from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the so-called Independent lackeys endorsed a heartless budget last October – one that absolutely hammered people with disabilities. This motion offers them the opportunity to purge their contempt. The then Minister for Finance … Deputy Calleary, has the opportunity. Sinn Féin fully supports the motion before the House today, which mandates the Government to restore the €400 emergency winter payment

that this Government continues to perpetuate. Last year's cost-of-disability package, though insufficient, has been ripped away. What is offered in budget 2026 is a devastating drop in income for people with disabilities. While Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and their Independent colleagues offer empty election-time … children growing up at risk. This is not just policy failure, it is a conscious poverty trap. The Government must deliver an emergency winter payment. It must also deliver a fundamental shift. We need a Government that sees the dignity of disabled people not as a line item

Government's poor budget decisions. People with disabilities are €1,400 worse off due to the removal of essential supports in budget 2026. I have been contacted by many constituents over the Christmas period who are struggling with these cuts. Donegal is an isolated area and we have … essentials like heating and clothing. One in five people with disabilities lives in constant poverty. Will the Taoiseach address this by introducing an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce an emergency winter payment for disabled people to compensate them for the cuts imposed on them in the Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2795/26

Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities in 2026, in light of the withdrawal of once-off supports such as the €400 disability support grant and energy credits in Budget 2026; if he has assessed the impact of these