Minister Foley and Minister of State Naughton hold annual Pre-Estimates Forum on Disability Services
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 28 Bealtaine 2025
- this annual event brings together stakeholders from across the disability sector to discuss funding and policy priorities for the year ahead
- this year’s event builds on the inaugural forum held in 2024
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley and Minister of State for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton, today hosted the department’s annual Pre-Estimates Forum in Dublin’s Camden Court Hotel.
This forum provides an opportunity for stakeholders from the disability sector to come together and engage with the department on funding priorities for the upcoming budget.
The event saw a wide range of stakeholders from across the sector come together, including representatives from Disabled Persons’ Organisations, service-provider umbrella bodies, advocacy groups and statutory bodies such as the National Disability Authority and Health Service Executive.
There were presentations from the department’s Research and Evaluation Unit, the HSE and the Federation of Voluntary Providers as well as a panel discussion chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and featuring the Disabled Persons’ Organisations Network, the Department of Education and Youth, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. There were also workshop discussions which allowed delegates to express their ideas and priorities for Budget 2026.
Speaking at the event, Minister Foley reflected on how the insights gleaned from the previous year’s forum had provided invaluable insights which informed preparations for Budget 2025.
Minister Foley said:
“It is the ambition of this government to achieve a step-change in disability services. As we work towards this goal, there are no voices more important than the voices of those who use and need these supports and services. I was honoured to meet so many people today and to witness their passion and drive to improve disability services and help to create a more equal and inclusive Ireland."
Minister Naughton said:
“This forum has shown yet again how critical that the voices of service users and their, families, advocates, service providers, guest panelists and frontline staff are. These conversations are not just symbolic—they are informing real policy decisions. Because to get this right, we must listen to the people who know best and who can help design the high quality public services people with a disability need and deserve.We must stay aligned—across Government, across services, and with the lived experience of disabled people at the centre. We cannot reform without resources, and we cannot transform without trust. The voice, partnership, and oversight of everyone who joined our forum today are essential to delivering on the promise of real change.”
Notes
Budget 2025 saw an extra €333 million allocated to disability services. This included €290 million for Existing Levels of Service (ELS) to help strengthen service provider capacity. €27 millions has been provided for capital, a €4 million increase on the previous year.
€43 million has been allocated for New Development Measures (NDM) to support the delivery of the Action Plan for Disability Services. In addition to this, Existing Level of Service Funding (ELS) also contains provision for service expansion due to demographic change.
Combined, this funding will help deliver the following in 2025:
- 40 new therapy staff and 20 new therapy assistants for Children’s Disability Services
- between 1,250- and 1,400-Day Service Places for school leavers
- C. 70 new priority one residential placements
- 21 moves from congregated settings
- in the region of 4,060 additional overnight respite sessions and 8,000 day-respite sessions
- 95,000 additional PA hours
- 40,000 hours additional Home Support hours