Disabilities Waterford

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

23% of the population, or 29,204 people, have at least one disability

14,147 males, and 15,057 females have at least one disability

Age Breakdown

2,308 people 0-14 years old

3,016 people 15-24 years old

5,974 people 25-44 years old

8,363 people 44-65 years old

9,543 people over 65

Type of Disability

11,933 people have difficulty with pain, breathing or any other chronic illness or condition

9,431 people have difficulty with basic physical activities

6,974 people have a psychological or emotional condition or a mental health issue

7,675 people have blindness or a vision impairment

6,444 people have Deafness or a hearing impairment

6,448 people have difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating

2,653 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