DFI secures €70,000 to strengthen disability-led organisations across Ireland

We are delighted to announce that the Disability Federation of Ireland has secured €70,000 under the Government’s Power to Participate: Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement Fund 2026.

The funding will support a national capacity-building programme for Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPOs) and disability-led member organisations, helping them strengthen their leadership, advocacy and representative roles.

The programme will include:

• Leadership and advocacy training.

• Mentoring and peer learning opportunities.

• Support for evidence-informed advocacy and policy engagement.

• The establishment of a national peer network for DPOs and disability-led organisations.

The programme responds to findings from DFI’s 2026 Member Survey, in which 32 member organisations self-identified as DPOs, with a further eight potentially to be added to that number.

Collectively, these organisations support and/or represent more than 353,000 disabled people nationally.

Through this investment, we want to help build stronger organisations, support greater collaboration and ensure disabled people have meaningful opportunities to influence the decisions that affect their lives.

As we work towards the ambitions of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030, strengthening the capacity and voice of disability-led organisations is essential.

We look forward to working with our members to deliver this programme.

#DisabilityRights #DPOs #Participation #Advocacy #UNCRPD