Cost of Disability – Strategic Focus Network Summit

The Government published the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 in September 2025.

In this strategy the government promised to hold a Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit.

The Strategy recognises that disabled people often face extra costs because of their disability. These can include higher costs for transport, healthcare, education, communication, housing, and everyday living. These costs affect many areas of life and cut across Government, so they need a whole‑of‑Government response.

About the Summit

The Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit is a one‑day hybrid event taking place on 13 May.

• online attendance is open to all, and this webpage provides information and access for those taking part online
• in‑person attendance is fully booked

The Summit will be chaired by the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, and will include workshops and guest speakers.

The purpose of the Summit is to support discussion and shared learning to help shape future policy. It is not an event to announce or launch new proposals.

The Summit will build on what was heard during the Public Consultation on the Cost of Disability, helping to fine‑tune and develop that work further.

What will the Summit Focus on

The Summit will explore both a Cost of Disability payment and the wider cost of disability issues that need to be addressed across Government. It will provide space for participants to:

• discuss the purpose of a cost of disability payment
• share ideas on how a cost of disability payment might work
• identify the key actions needed to introduce such a payment
• identify wider actions on the cost of disability that can be progressed across Government within the lifetime of the Strategy

Discussions will reflect that the cost of disability is broader than income supports alone, and includes access to services, supports and opportunities.

Who is organising the Summit

The Summit is being hosted by the Department of Social Protection, with support and input from relevant Government Departments and Agencies.

Participants include Disabled Persons’ Organisations, senior Government officials, employers, civil society representatives, elected representatives and people with subject‑matter expertise.

What happens next

A briefing paper will be written after the summit. This paper will set out the key messages and lessons from the discussions. It will help inform Government decisions on a cost of disability payment and identify other whole‑of‑Government actions that can help reduce the cost of disability in a meaningful and sustainable way.

You are invited to register to participate in the Summit online.

You can give comments and feedback to the Summit in real time and up until 5pm on Wednesday 14 May, using Zooms Q&A feature.

The Summit will also be live streamed on the day with no need to register.