Disabilities Dublin City

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

22% of the population, or 130,192 number of people, have at least one disability

60,094 males, and 70,098 females have at least one disability

Age Breakdown

8,191 people 0-14 years old

14,524 people 15-24 years old

35,246 people 25-44 years old

33,458 people 44-65 years old

38,773 people over 65

Type of Disability

52,026 people have difficulty with pain, breathing or any other chronic illness or condition

40,127 people have difficulty with basic physical activities

37,036 people have a psychological or emotional condition or a mental health issue

35,770 people have blindness or a vision impairment

25,541 people have Deafness or a hearing impairment

29,265 people have difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating

11,267 people have an intellectual disability

The current reality as stated by the 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.