Longford meeting hears calls for emergency payment to be made to people with disabilities

Longford County Council has been called upon to urge the Government to give people with disabilities a temporary emergency payment as a means of financial assistance until a longer-term support payment begins in 2027. 

In proposing the motion, Cllr David Cassidy asked the council to write to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley and Minister for State Emer Higgins to strongly advocate for an emergency payment to be made to people with disabilities, adding that the payment would “alleviate the shortfall from cuts to disability funding in the 2026 budget” and would “bridge the gap until an annual cost of disability payment - which the government has committed to implement in 2027 - is put in place to address the extra expenses faced by disabled people.” 

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Cllr Cassidy pointed out that “a disabled person who was living alone and received a fuel allowance in 2025, a disability support grant, €400; a living alone allowance, €200; a fuel allowance - which was a once off - €300; an October double payment, €254; and an electricity credit, €250 euro."

"So when everything is taken into account," he said, "it's a total loss of €1,404, and while all core social welfare rates including disability allowance increase by €10 per week, that increase is just an inflationary response. I would like to see an emergency payment being made to bridge the gap until an annual cost of disability payment is implemented in 2027.”

The councillor asked that his request be strongly considered as the most vulnerable people in society had been affected.

Cllr Cassidy also paid tribute to James Cauley for bringing the matter to his attention, adding that he had worked closely with James when he and the committee set up the Inclusive Sports Club in Drumlish. 

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Councillor Kevin Hussey voiced strong support for the motion and suggested circulating it to all local authorities as it might then persuade the government to support it. 

Cllr Pádraig McNamara said there was no doubt the motion was a good one adding that he hated to see anyone “distressed over less money than what they've been used to before”. 

He pointed out that there is an exceptional needs payment available that eligible people could apply for which may assist in such a situation.  

In response, Cllr Cassidy said, “I will counter that with you. Look at what's after happening in the last week or two. Oil price is almost doubling! I would feel strongly that it (the payment) should be brought in right now. They’re hiking prices up on petrol, home heating oil has gone up. It definitely makes even more sense now than when I put the motion in.”

Cathaoirleach Garry Murtagh agreed there were other avenues to be explored as suggested by Cllr McNamara, but added that equally there was no harm to write to the ministers responsible as requested by Cllr Cassidy. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme