1,000 Voices, One Message: Invest in Our Rights!

Inclusion Ireland today launched its Pre-Budget Submission 2026, “1,000 Voices, One Message: Invest in Our Rights,” calling on the Irish Government to deliver long-term, ambitious change for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The submission, informed by over 1,000 direct voices from across Ireland, highlights persistent and critical gaps in education, health, housing, and the cost of disability.

“For too long, the voices of people with intellectual disabilities and their families have been ignored,” stated Derval McDonagh, CEO of Inclusion Ireland. “Our ‘1,000 Voices’ initiative, born from extensive surveys conducted in June 2025, provides an undeniable evidence base rooted in lived experiences. The message is clear: it’s time to listen, and it’s time for change.”

The comprehensive surveys captured the experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities, families supporting children with intellectual disabilities and families and supporters of adults with intellectual disabilities. Key findings reveal a stark picture of unmet needs:

78% of people surveyed don’t believe that the Government listens to their voices in decisions made about the Budget.

Financial Strain: A staggering 66% of adults with an intellectual disability reported that their current social welfare supports do not meet their needs. Nearly 80% of families and supporters across both child and adult groups confirmed that private spending on therapies, transport, or basic supports significantly impacts their household budget.

Housing Crisis: Over half (53%) of adults with an intellectual disability ranked “getting a home of my own” as a top concern. Yet, only 10% had a solid plan to move out, and 44% wanted to leave the family home but lacked crucial support. More than half found the housing application process “very difficult.”

Early Intervention Failures: One in four families reported that their child received no early intervention, with long waiting lists and delays in access to essential therapies being commonplace.

Information and Planning Gaps: 40% of families and supporters had never heard of personalised budgets, limiting access to flexible, person-led support models. Only 10% of families had a future housing or support plan in place for their loved ones, highlighting profound anxiety for the future of their loved ones.

“Our community is not looking for short-term fixes; we demand long-term thinking and ambition from our leaders,” McDonagh added. “Children and their families need meaningful support in the early years. Adults with disabilities deserve the same rights as every other citizen: to live a dignified life as part of the community.”

The submission emphasises that the findings underscore significant gaps between lived reality and the State’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). It calls for urgent action to deliver on commitments outlined in the Programme for Government, the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024–2026, and the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022–2027.

 

Inclusion Ireland’s Key Asks for Budget 2026 include:

• Increasing core disability payments above the poverty threshold and introducing a minimum €50 Cost of Disability payment.
• Significant investment in Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) to ensure timely access to therapies and support.
• Expanding access to supported living schemes and home adaptation grants.
• Investing in regional and online disability information hubs.
• Addressing means-test anomalies that disincentives financial independence.

 

“Our vision is an inclusive Ireland where people with an intellectual disability are supported to live and participate as equal members within the community,” said McDonagh. “The only way to truly value our community and to address the very real human rights issues facing people in every county in Ireland is to listen to these 1,000 voices. They are looking for hope, for recognition, and for real and meaningful support from Government in Budget 2026.”

 

Inclusion Ireland Budget Submission 2026: https://inclusionireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Inclusion-Ireland-Budget-Submission-2026-2-compressed.pdf

Inclusion Ireland Easy to Read Budget Submission 2026: https://inclusionireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Inclusion-Ireland-Budget-Submission-Easy-to-read.pdf

 

ENDS

Contact: 

For more information please contact:

Caoimhe Suipéil, Head of Communications, Inclusion Ireland

Email: Caoimhe@inclusionireland.ie

Phone: 086-2265813

 

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