AsIAm Calls for Greater Supports in Creating an Autism Affirming Society
€55 Cost of Disability Payment urgently needed to address disability poverty
Disability and poverty must not “go hand in hand”
Autism-specific supports, promised in the Programme for Government, must be delivered in Budget 2027
AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity, has today published its 2027 Pre-Budget Submission, urging Government to take decisive action to tackle poverty and inequality, and truly begin to build an Autism-affirming society for Autistic people.
The submission sets out recommendations across three key areas: tackling poverty and inflation, investing in Autism-specific supports, and delivering on existing commitments made across the Programme for Government, the Autism Innovation Strategy and key national disability strategies.
AsIAm is calling for the introduction of a €55 weekly Cost of Disability Payment, alongside a €25.40 increase to Disability Allowance, a €38 increase to Domiciliary Care Allowance and a 10% increase to Carer’s Allowance. The charity is also calling for the abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance, warning that Disabled people and families continue to face unacceptable levels of poverty and financial pressure.
Same Chance
AsIAm’s Same Chance Report 2026 found that 93% of respondents experienced additional costs on the grounds of being Autistic, while 98% believed a Cost of Disability Payment should be introduced to address the additional cost of living as an Autistic person or raising an Autistic family member. The report also found that 81% did not believe their local community offered safe, accessible and low-pressure social spaces for Autistic people.
The charity also warns that commitments made to Autistic people and Disabled people must now be matched by investment. The submission calls for the full implementation of the EPSEN Review, a pathway for Autistic adults to access Assessment of Need and follow-up supports, further roll-out of educational therapy supports, investment in respite, and reform of employment schemes so that Autistic people can access and remain in meaningful work.
The Pre-Budget Submission also calls for investment in Autism-specific supports, including €7 million to establish and maintain seven additional Autism-specific Community Support Hubs across the country, €2 million in additional funding for AsIAm’s Augmentative and Alternative Communication programme, and a further €2 million to establish and resource the Autism Innovation Fund, as committed to under the Autism Innovation Strategy.
AsIAm is also urging Government to fund a national Autism Acceptance and Understanding campaign, increase access to Autism-specific employment supports, provide resources to make cultural institutions and sports clubs more accessible, and deliver multi-annual core funding for Disabled Persons Organisations.
Michael O’Flanagan, Head of Legal, Policy and Information Line at AsIAm, said:
“Budget 2027 must be the moment when Government moves beyond commitments on paper and begins to deliver real change in the lives of Autistic people and families. Too many members of our community continue to face poverty, exclusion, inaccessible services and long waiting lists for supports that should be available as a matter of right.
“Disability and poverty should not go hand in hand. Autistic people and families are facing additional costs every day, from therapies and assessments to communication supports, sensory supports, energy costs and transport. These costs are not optional, and they cannot continue to be ignored.
“An Autism-affirming society will not happen in isolation. It requires sustained investment, political will and a commitment to listening to Autistic people, as enshrined under Article 4.3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Budget 2027 is an opportunity for Government to deliver the supports, services and rights-based reforms our community has been promised for far too long.”
AsIAm’s key recommendations for Budget 2027
- Introduce a €55 weekly Cost of Disability Payment for Disabled people
- Increase Disability Allowance by €25.40
- Increase Domiciliary Care Allowance by €38
- Increase Carer’s Allowance by 10%
- Abolish the means test for Carer’s Allowance
- Provide €7 million to establish and maintain seven additional Autism-specific Community Support Hubs
- Increase funding for AsIAm’s AAC Programme by €2 million, including extending the service to Autistic adults
- Provide a further €2 million to establish and resource the Autism Innovation Fund
- Fund a national Autism Acceptance and Understanding campaign
- Create a pathway for Autistic adults to access Assessment of Need and follow-up multidisciplinary supports
- Fully resource the implementation of the EPSEN Review
- Increase investment in respite, inclusive education, employment supports and accessible public services
AsIAm said Budget 2027 must prioritise those most vulnerable to economic hardship and ensure that Autistic people and families are given the same chance to live, work, grow and participate fully in Irish society.