Disability Federation of Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Disability Federation of Ireland

Date published 20 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Budgetary matters

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Emergency Winter Payment Campaign

Intended results Funding for an Emergency Winter Payment for people with disabilities

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Elaine Teague, Emer Begley, Allen Dunne, Fleachta Phelan, Charlotte Olhausen, Tom Meagher

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? 1 Mass mailout sent on 28/11/25 to DFI members and self-advocates encouraging them to attend the demonstration being held outside Leinster House on 09/12/25 to raise awareness on the cost of disability and call for an Emergency Winter Payment

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members 1 Mass mailout sent to all Oireachtas Members on 18/12/25 calling for an Emergency Winter Payment for people with disabilities to bridge the income gap following the loss of once-off payments in Budget 2026. Co-signed by: Joan Carthy (IWA) Bernard Mulvany (Access for All) Joe Condon (Early Onset Parkinson's Disease Ireland) Christ White (Vision Ireland) Finbarr Murray (Rehab Group) Derval McDonagh (Inclusion Ireland) Triona O'Hanlon (Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland)

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Lobby day (1)

Demonstration held outside Leinster House on 09/12/25 calling for Government to fund an Emergency Winter Payment for people with disabilities

Designated public officials lobbied

There were no DPOs directly lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area.