People in Waterford forced to choose 'heating vs eating' as they face rising costs

Disabled people are choosing between "heating vs eating" in Waterford due to rising costs and reduced supports. 

That's according to Joan Carthy, the National Advocacy Manager with the Irish Wheelchair Association.

This week a disability coalition held a public demonstration outside the Dáil demanding urgent action for disabled people.

Members of the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Disability Federation of Ireland, and Access for All came together to call for an immediate emergency winter payment for people with disabilities.

IWA members in Waterford and across the country are deeply disappointed that Budget 2026 failed to deliver a permanent Cost of Disability Payment for people with disabilities in Ireland.

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The budget also took away existing supports that people had relied on over the past three years, which has left thousands of people with disabilities facing increased hardship, isolation, and impossible choices between heating their homes and putting food on the table.

According to the Disability Coalition, people with disabilities are up to €1,400 worse off in 2026 compared to last year, following the removal of once-off payments.

"An emergency, one-off winter payment would provide essential relief and help people through the coldest months. Disability poverty doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a system that fails to recognise the real costs of living with a disability. Budget 2026 should have been the turning point – instead, it has turned backwards," a spokesperson for the IWA said. 

According to a 2025 ESRI report, disabled people face extra costs in the range of €488-€555 on average a week.

According to a 2024 CSO report, people with disabilities have consistently high poverty rates, nearly four times higher (19%) than the national average (5%).

"Many of our members or their families have worked all their lives, paid taxes but now are at risk because of a health issue in the family. How can a developed country and civilised government take away supports and exclude this community from budget increases now that they need it?," the spokesperson said. 

Irish Wheelchair Association is campaigning for the government to introduce an emergency winter payment of €400 to match the disability support grant that was cut in the last budget.