Committees on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, and Disability Matters to Discuss Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection for Persons with Disabilities

The Committees on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, and Disability Matters will hold a joint meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, 26 November, to discuss ‘adequate standard of living and social protection for persons with disabilities’ with stakeholders.

The meeting at 9:30am in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House will hear from:

• Representatives from the Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPO Network);

• Professor Karina Doorley and Dr Agathe Simon of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI);

• Dr Mel Cousins of Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

The meeting will be chaired by John Paul O’Shea TD, Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development. Deputy O’Shea said: “This joint meeting provides an opportunity for Members of both Committees to engage and discuss with representative bodies and experts on disability and social protection on the costs associated with disability.

“Members will also refer to a cost of disability payment. This includes the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability support payment with a view to incrementally increasing the payment. The Committees are eager to explore the design of such a payment and how a long-term structural support measure may be implemented.

“In March 2025, the ESRI published a paper entitled: ‘Adjusting estimates of poverty for the cost of disability’ which explored the economic impact of disability on households. The Committee will discuss the paper with ESRI representatives including the finding that at risk of poverty rates increase substantially when the cost of disability is accounted for.”

Maurice Quinlivan TD, Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, said: “The Committees look forward to engaging with the DPO Network to gain insights into the costs and economic impacts that arise from disability. Dr Mel Cousins has researched and published extensively on the social protection policy and the disability sector. Members are eager to engage with Dr Cousins on policy matters and how policy can be developed to support persons with a disability.”

The meeting in Committee Room 1 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.