Applications are being accepted for the €3.5 million Disability Participation and Awareness Fund which was launched this week, enabling organisations to support people with disabilities to take part in community, sports and physical activities, arts and cultural activities, social enterprises and apprenticeships; and innovative animal-assisted approaches to inclusion and wellbeing.
The most recent round of Disability Participation and Awareness Fund grants provided funding for a variety of projects, including the opening up of canoeing clubs for people with disabilities, audio theatre workshops, disability arts festivals and a DIY wheelchair repair programme.
Charities, social enterprises and nonprofit organisations working directly with disabled people can now apply for the new round of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund, which is managed by Rethink Ireland. Applications are open now at rethinkireland.ie and will close on 23 April 2026.
Announcing the opening of the call for applications with Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Emer Higgins, Norma Foley, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, said that ‘people with disabilities have the right to participate fully in every aspect of life.’
“That is why we are investing in accessible sport, inclusive arts, meaningful employment and innovative supports that will make a real difference to people’s everyday lives,” she said.
Over €13.5 million has been invested in 60 organisations nationwide since the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund was established by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. This has enabled more than 5,000 disabled people to participate more fully in their communities, and over 150 people to secure paid employment or apprenticeships. Previous awardees include My Canine Companion, Cork (MCC School Therapy Dog Programme).
Speaking at the launch, Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland, said: “The Disability Participation and Awareness Fund is exactly the kind of work we are proud to stand behind – practical, community-led solutions that remove barriers and create real opportunities for people with disabilities. These projects are changing how communities think about inclusion, and showing what is possible.”
The fund aligns with Ireland’s National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Ireland’s Wellbeing Framework.
