Minister teases Budget boost for workers and vows disability payment update as families face €1k winter hit

A MINISTER has declared that “working families will be at the heart of the Budget” amid concerns over fuel protests and the cost-of-disability payment.

Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary confirmed that the Government is “finalising the preparation for the Budget” this week and will be in a “position to announce” the cost-of-disability payment on Budget Day.

Calleary appeared alongside Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly and Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice on RTÉ’s This Week in Politics today.

With just days to go until Budget 2027 is announced by Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers on Tuesday, October 6, Mr Calleary declared that the Government “will continue to support working people”.

He said: “There will be a tax package in this Budget for working people, because absolutely working people need a break because they’re keeping our country going.

“It is their taxes that we can invest in the cost-of-disability payment for us.”

But when questioned, Mr Calleary admitted the Government would not be able to deal with everything.

He said: “I’ve had very constructive negotiations as Minister for Social Protection with Minister Jack Chambers and with the Tánaiste. They will continue throughout the week.

“And yes, we will have a Budget on Tuesday that will reflect where people are at and will try to answer where people are at.

“We will certainly show targeted investment where people are feeling the pinch most at the moment.”

The Social Protection Minister said he had also been negotiating with Mr Chambers and Tánaiste Simon Harris over the cost of disability.

He said: “My negotiations with both Jack and the Tánaiste have been positive and constructive, and we’re going to see it right through until Budget Day.

“I’ll be in a position to announce that on Budget Day.

“I’ve put a lot of time into it. And we’re working hard together for Budget 2027.”

Mr Calleary’s comments come amid continuing concerns over fuel protests.

Louise O’Reilly, the Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal West, said there was continued “frustration” as people were being “crucified at the pumps”.

Ms O’Reilly said people would protest over the cost of fuel because “they have no option”.

She said: “Diesel has already gone well over €2 a litre.

“So, for people who live in areas where they have no choice — and it is rural and it is urban as well — where they have no choice but to use their car, they are being absolutely crucified at the pumps.

“And the answer from the Government — and this is what I mean when I say they’re tone deaf — is they make an announcement that, on January 4, they’re going to jack up the cost of public transport.

“Let’s not forget it: the people who are protesting are people who are hard-working, ordinary, decent people.”

The Social Protection Minister said the Government was investing in people’s daily lives through subsidies.

He said: “That’s keeping diesel 30c a litre, keeping petrol at similar levels per litre or lower.

“Without the subsidies that are going in, without that decision, petrol and diesel prices would be a lot higher.”

Meanwhile, it was announced earlier this week that Irish households could face a new €1,000 cost hike this winter.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald challenged the Government during Leaders’ Questions to say whether it could get rising costs under control, warning that families were already facing mounting financial pressure.

The Dublin Central TD also told the Dáil that households could be forced to spend an extra €1,000 this winter as the cost of living continues to rise.

Ms McDonald said: “Less than two weeks to Budget Day, what will the Government do to get costs under control?

“Price hikes mean that households will have to fork out an additional €1,000 this winter.

“And seven out of ten young people are now considering leaving this country because they can’t live affordably here.”

Analysis by Bonkers.ie shows that families face cost increases of up to €1,000 a year due to a range of hikes in the coming months.

It found that many households will pay around €140 more a year for gas and €180 more for electricity from next month, as price hikes from some major energy suppliers come into effect.