Speech by Minister of State for Disability Hildegarde Naughton on Budget 2026

When this Government took office last January, we promised a step change in the delivery of supports and services for people with disability and their families.

Budget 2026 is the first step in delivering on this ambition.

Some €3.83 billion will be provided to specialist disability services in 2026, an unprecedented increase of €618 million, or almost 20%.

This funding will be directed at services which are delivered by the HSE, Section 38 and Section 39 organisations which do such valuable work on the ground.

The increased allocation will help provide financial stability to a sector which has seen significant cost increases over recent years, in addition to a rising demand for services.

Among the key areas for investment in 2026 include:

The blueprint for our spending decisions is the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People which was published just over a month ago.

This whole-of-government strategy was shaped by the voices of disabled people, and Budget 2026 will help deliver on the ambition expressed during that consultation process.

I think it is also worth noting that a whole-of-government approach has been adopted in the framing of Budget 2026.

Colleagues across Government will announce today and tomorrow details of other supports for disabled people and their families.

These include more therapists in primary care, additional Special Education Teachers and SNAs and targeted supports for disabled people including an expansion in the wage subsidy scheme and increases in the domiciliary care allowance.

Government believes that disabled people should be able to access the right services, at the right time, and within their communities.

Budget 2026 is the first step in making that a reality.