AsIAm Cautiously Welcomes Budget 2027 But Well Short of What is Needed

Issued 6 October, 2026: AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism charity, acknowledges today’s Budget 2027 commitment but says it still falls well short of what is needed.

Commenting on the Government’s announcement of Budget 2027, Fiona Ferris Deputy CEO, AsIAm, said “ The introduction of the lump sum up front payment of €500 towards the cost of disability is a welcome first step - but it is exactly that, a step. Costs relating to disability do not occur on a once off basis. They are a very real issue in the daily lives of our community members.

“Recent reports by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) estimate the true cost of disability to be between €488 and €555 per week. While this annual payment is a positive acknowledgement of the costs relating to disability, we require a sustained commitment by the Government to build on this in future budgets to ensure this measure does not serve merely as an annual 'sticking plaster' on a very significant issue contributing to risk of poverty for our community.

“We also welcome the €10 increase to Carers Allowance and Disability Allowance, as well as the increases in Income Disregard for the Carers Allowance. It is important to note that while Minister Chambers did outline that this increase would be over the rate of inflation projected for the next year, it still leaves those in receipt of the Disability Allowance, €400 a month beneath the poverty line.

“Minister Chambers in his opening address referenced that success of Budget 2027 would be measured on the changes that it will make to individuals and families in their day to day lives. This is very much aligned with AsIAm's request to see the full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities, to ensure that this budget is a turning point in the trajectory of our community's experiences. There was also great emphasis on resilience. Often it is the most vulnerable in our society who are expected to demonstrate resilience, when evidence has shown that disabled people and their families are twice as likely to be at risk of poverty than non-disabled people.

“We await further detail from the multiple departmental briefings that are taking place over the coming days.”