Navan wheelchair user struggles to make end meet

A Navan wheelchair user spoke out about her struggle to make ends meet as the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) made its 2026 Pre-Budget submission.

IWA member Jane Fennessy said: “I really struggle with the cost of living as I am on Disability Allowance and most of my allowance would go on bills before I even get the grocery shop.”

She urged the government for additional financial support. “I would like to see a payment on top of my disability allowance to help me live without fear of turning on my heat or electricity,”

Choosing between eating or heating is an impossible choice many people with disabilities face every winter in Ireland, and Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) is calling on the Government to finally address the cost of disability in the upcoming budget.

Members and staff from the Association gathered outside Leinster House on Tuesday, including a group from Navan IWA, to hand over its 2026 Pre-Budget submission.

In its Submission, IWA is urging the Government to introduce a realistic Cost of Disability payment. The call comes as 92 per cent of IWA members surveyed reported that they incur extra costs related to their disability. These span across equipment, heating, medical and transport, as people with disabilities often have to rely on costly taxis to get them to and from appointments.

IWA’s Advocacy Manager Joan Carthy emphasised that ‘disability poverty doesn’t happen by accident.’

She said: “It’s the result of a system that fails to recognise and respond to the real costs of living with a disability. “This budget must be the turning point. We need choice, not charity.”

The submission draws from consultation with over 700 people with disabilities nationwide and makes urgent recommendations, including: a minimum increase of €78 in the weekly Disability Allowance (from €244 to €322), a Cost of Disability Payment to reflect the extra living costs incurred by people with disabilities and pay parity for Section 39 workers, who deliver vital disability services.

Another IWA member, Evan Power, Laois, shared how his heating bills reach up to €700 a month during the winter months. After paying his bills, he’s left with just €30 to live on during the summer but in the winter, he could be left with nothing.

“I’m very good at budgeting and manage my money well, but the truth is, once I pay my bills, I have €30 left over each week. Being in a wheelchair with limited mobility means it’s harder to stay warm as my movement is limited, so in the lead up to and during the winter months, I’m totally focused on ensuring I’ve enough money to pay my heating bill, which can go up to €700 a month,” states Evan.

IWA is also calling for: investment in personal assistant services, accessible housing, and transport, resources to fully implement the National Disability Strategy Plan, once issued.

“People with disabilities want to contribute, belong and live independently—but the cost of doing so is being ignored. Some members have told to us that they are having to choose between heating their homes or eating. Over half of our members state they do not have enough Personal Assistant hours, until pay parity and sectoral funding are sorted, this will continue,” said Joan Carthy. “We have had good engagement with the Minister for Disability and the Department, but this is the Government’s chance to take action through funding and strategic planning for the future of people with disabilities in Ireland.”

Other key points reported in IWA’s survey include: 89 per cent reported that the Housing Adaptation Grant didn't cover the costs of the adaptation, 70 per cent incur medical related costs, 69 per cent incur transport related costs, 66 per cent incur equipment costs and 65 per cent incur additional heating related costs.

Among the politicians who attended Tuesday’s event were Meath Deputies Darren O’Rourke, Johnny Guirke and Peadar Toibin.