Disabilities Longford

Freedom Scooters wish to highlight the level of disabilities in each County, today we are looking at Disabilities Longford. This is most poignant since the Budget will be in early October. 

21% of the population, or 9,857 people, have at least one disability

4,811 males, and 5,046 females have at least one disability

Age Breakdown

945 people 0-14 years old

872 people 15-24 years old

1,892 people 25-44 years old

2,843 people 44-65 years old

3,305 people over 65

Type of Disability

4,056 people have difficulty with pain, breathing or any other chronic illness or condition

3,438 people have difficulty with basic physical activities

2,297 people have a psychological or emotional condition or a mental health issue

2,754 people have blindness or a vision impairment

2,074 people have Deafness or a hearing impairment

2,433 people have difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating

1,010 people have an intellectual disability

Disability Federation of Ireland

Disabled people are:

• Four times more likely to live in consistent poverty
• Spending up to 93% of disposable income on extra disability-related costs
• Facing long waits with over 8,000 children have been waiting more than 12 months for initial contact after applying for an assessment of need
• Still forced into nursing homes due to a lack of appropriate housing and supports.

What needs to change

DFI is calling for clear, targeted investment backed by transparency, equality-proofing, and lived experience. Budget 2026 must not repeat the mistakes of the past, it must show that the State is ready to act