A coalition of disability organisations has announced plans for a national protest after the Government refused to introduce an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities.
Irish Wheelchair Association, Disability Federation of Ireland and Access for All said they are calling on the Government to introduce an emergency 400 euro winter payment following what they described as mounting evidence of severe winter hardship.
The coalition said thousands of people with disabilities across Ireland are being forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. They said the situation is having a significant impact on families caring for children with disabilities, particularly following the removal of supports such as energy credits and elements of the Disability Support Payment, which had become part of many household budgets. The groups said the loss of these supports has placed a heavy financial and emotional burden on carers.
The coalition is now calling on people with disabilities, their families and members of the wider public to march in solidarity on Saturday, February 28.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Joan Carthy of the Irish Wheelchair Association said:
Last month, a direct question was put to the Taoiseach on whether the Government would introduce an emergency winter payment to prevent people with disabilities suffering through the winter. The answer was a clear no. We are already seeing health deteriorate and debt increase because people cannot afford to keep their homes warm.
Wheelchair user Susan Power described the daily reality faced by many disabled people:
I am sitting home most days cold. I’m lucky if I can put the heating on for a few hours in the evening. Every day I am having to make choices, whether we will eat dinner or whether we will be warm for a day. When you are sitting still in a wheelchair, you feel the cold even more. The €400 emergency winter payment would mean I could actually use heat efficiently.”
The protest will take place on Saturday, February 28, beginning at 1pm at the Garden of Remembrance before marching to the Customs House. Those attending will hear from people directly affected by winter hardship about the impact on their health and independence.
The coalition said people with disabilities are now up to 1,400 euro worse off following Budget 2026, with rising living costs leaving many unable to afford basic necessities. The groups are calling on the Government to urgently introduce an emergency winter payment to prevent further harm.
Members of the public can support the campaign by contacting their local public representatives at www.iwa.ie and joining the march on February 28th.
