More funding for disability services promised
€795 million in the new NDP from 2026 to 2030.
The allocation for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in the National Development Plan (NDP) has increased to almost €800 million.
Under the previous NDP, some €255 million was allocated to the Department over the period 2021 to 2025 but this has now risen to €795 million in the new NDP from 2026 to 2030.
The increased funding will be used to provide additional early learning and childcare places, more disability services for those with complex needs, capital investment for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and investment in playgrounds.
Another major initiative to be progressed under the NDP is the National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
Welcoming the announcement, Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, commented: “I welcome the additional investment for disability services and early childhood education in the new National Development Plan. It also provides funding for a range of other important initiatives including the National Centre for Research and Remembrance and continuing development of the Oberstown Detention Centre.
It also contains increases in capital spending projects for disabled people with complex needs from around €77 million over the last five years to a capital allocation of €278 million between 2026 and 2030 – an increase of over 250 per cent.
There are also substantial increases in the NDP more broadly for new housing development and new transport projects for example – which will assist disabled people as well.
This is a sign of this government’s commitment to deliver a step change in services for disabled people and to deliver real value for money for taxpayers with this substantial investment.”
This government has been clear that a cross-departmental approach is being taken to deliver the step change required in disability services. In this respect, it is important to note the NDP contains significant increases in funding for other government departments which also play a key role in improving the lives of disabled people. This includes record allocations for the Department of Housing, which provides housing for people with Disabilities, the Department of Transport which provides transport for people with disabilities and the Department of Education which funds the special education budget in schools.
Minister of State for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton added: “Government is committed to significantly investing in services for children, young people and adults with disabilities, and key to this is ensuring that our day services, respite and residential facilities are of high quality and are suitable for all those who need them.
The physical environment is so important, and there has been historic under-investment in this area. The funding provided under the new National Development Plan will allow us to develop and deliver a pipeline of projects across the country, which will make an enormous difference to those with disabilities and their families.