2026 Member's Pre-Budget Submissions

July 14 2025

DFI members, partners and coalition organisations are raising their voices ahead of Budget 2026, highlighting the urgent needs of people with disabilities and the actions government must take.

Each submission reflects the unique work and expertise of organisations grounded in lived experience and community connection. By sharing their priorities, they are calling for a fairer, more inclusive Ireland.

Explore the pre-budget submissions from our member organisations below. To add your submission to this list email Tom at tommeagher@disability-federation.ie.

Member submissions

Submissions from DFI member organisations

Aquried Brian Injury Ireland

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is seeking €2 million in Budget 2026 to fund a national brain injury case management service, help young survivors move out of nursing homes, and expand regional rehabilitation services. The goal is to provide integrated, person-centred support so brain injury survivors can live more independently at home, not inappropriately placed care settings. Read the full submission here.

Care Alliance Ireland

Care Alliance Ireland’s Budget 2026 submission calls on the Department of Social Protection to better support over 611,000 family carers by abolishing the Carer’s Allowance means test, increasing payment rates, raising the 18.5-hour work/study limit, and splitting the Carer Support Grant into two payments. It urges the Government to act on existing Programme for Government commitments and ensure carers are recognised, supported, and empowered. Read the full submission here:

Cheshire Ireland

Cheshire Ireland’s Budget 2026 submission urges the Government to end the inappropriate placement of people under 65 in nursing homes, address chronic underfunding of disability services, improve service planning using the NASS database, and invest in suitable housing and assistive technology. The organisation calls for sustainable funding and proper planning to deliver person-centred, community-based care for people with disabilities. Read full submission here:

Family Carers Ireland

Family Carers Ireland’s Budget 2026 submission calls for urgent reforms to better support over 500,000 unpaid carers. Key asks include abolishing the Carer’s Allowance means test, raising carer payments and supports, guaranteeing access to respite, implementing the Statutory Home Support Scheme, improving services for children with additional needs, and ensuring carers are included in housing, transport, and workforce policies. The goal is to ensure that no one has to care alone. Read full submission here:

Irish Wheelchair Assocciation

IWA is urging Government to address the cost-of-living crisis facing disabled people in Budget 2026. Their key asks include:

Emergency cost-of-disability payment
Accessible and affordable housing
Fair pay and funding for essential disability services

Disabled people should not be forced to choose between heat or eat. Read the full submission here.

National Disability Services Association

The National Disability Services Association’s Budget 2026 submission urges the Government to fully fund disability services, tackle workforce and pay issues, introduce a €55 Cost of Disability payment, and invest in employment supports. It also calls for multi-annual funding, capital investment, and full resourcing of the upcoming National Human Rights Strategy to deliver person-centred, rights-based services across Ireland. Read the full submission here.

Neurological Alliance of Ireland

NAI is calling on Government to deliver on its own commitments to neuro-rehabilitation. Their 2026 submission seeks funding to:

Complete the rollout of community neuro-rehabilitation teams.
Add 45 inpatient neuro-rehabilitation beds in high-need regions.
Strengthen the not-for-profit sector’s role in long-term neuro-rehab supports.

Ireland urgently needs action to address critical gaps in neuro-rehabilitation services. Read the full submission here.

Parkinson's Ireland

Parkinson’s Ireland is calling for urgent funding to meet the rising demand for services as Parkinson’s disease rates grow. Their asks include:

State funding for their Cork-based nurse service
A dedicated national counselling service
Equal access to community neuro-rehabilitation teams
More consultant neurologists, especially in 5 under-served hospitals

Without action, people with Parkinson’s will continue to face delays, inequality, and avoidable hardship. Read the full submission here.

Rehab Group

Rehab Group’s Budget 2026 submission calls for urgent investment to support disabled people’s rights and independence. Key asks include a €55 Cost of Disability payment, better access to housing, healthcare, transport, education, and assistive technology, along with stronger employment supports and sustainable funding for disability services and staff pay parity. Read the full submission here.

Vision Ireland

Vision Ireland’s pre-Budget submission 2026 calls on the Irish Government to fund 14 targeted measures across six departments to better support the 296,000 people living with vision impairment. Key asks include mental health counselling, community eye care clinics, travel and taxi subsidies, accessible learning materials, a Cost of Disability payment, fairer social protection rules, assistive technology funding, and doubling the Housing Adaptation Grant. Read the full submission here.

VI PBS26 IMG

Joint submissions

Collaborative submissions that DFI co-authored or contributed to alongside other organisations.

Home Care Coalition

We are one of 23 organisations that make up the Home Care Coalition, HCC. HCC is calling for urgent investment in home support services in Budget 2026. They seek €266.5m to meet growing demand, €110m to address staffing and compliance costs, research funding to ensure disability inclusion, and a clear timeline for introducing a long-promised Statutory Home Support Scheme. Their goal: deliver on the right to be cared for at home, with dignity, equity, and proper support. Read the submission here.

Oireachtas Disability Group

We are members of the Oireachtas Disability Group, ODG alonside:

Inclusion Ireland
Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI)
National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers
National Disability Services Association
Mental Health Reform

ODG’s Budget 2026 submission calls for urgent investment to uphold disabled people’s rights under the UNCRPD. Key priorities include accessible housing and personal supports, a €55 Cost of Disability payment, social welfare and employment reforms, funding for DPOs, and better services for children and families. It also urges disability-proofed budgets and sustainable funding for community-based services. Read the full submission here: