Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and Access for All have announced a national protest later this month, calling on the Government to introduce an emergency €400 winter payment for people with disabilities, following its refusal to act despite mounting evidence of winter hardship.
The disability highlights that the reality facing thousands of people with disabilities across Ireland are being forced to choose between eating or heating their homes. The issue is also having a huge impact on families caring for a child with a disability. The removal of supports had become part of people’s household finances, like the energy credits and the cost of Disability Support Payment. The removal of these has taken a huge financial and emotional toll on the many carers. The coalition is now calling on people with disabilities, their families and the wider public to march in solidarity on Saturday, February 28th.
Wheelchair user, Susan Power, described the daily reality many disabled people now face.
“I am sitting home most days cold. I’m lucky if I can put the heating on for a few hours in t he evening. Every day I am having to make choices, whether we will eat a 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.”
DUBLIN PROTEST MARCH
The coalition will lead a protest on Saturday, February 28th, starting at 1pm at the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin, before marching to the Customs House, where people living with these realities will speak about the impact of winter hardship on their health and independence.
People with disabilities are up to €1,400 worse off following Budget 2026, with rising costs leaving many unable to afford basic necessities. The coalition is calling on the Government to urgently introduce an emergency winter payment to prevent further harm.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Joan Carthy of Irish Wheelchair Association said the government needs to step up.
“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.”
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.
