President of Ireland Opens Ireland’s Largest Disability Focussed Conference Amid Deepening Cost of Disability Crisis

Dublin, 26 March 2026, The President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, today formally opened Rehab Group’s National Advocacy Conference in Dublin, placing a national spotlight on the growing gap between disability rights and lived reality. The conference opened as the cost-of-living crisis deepened its impact on people with disabilities.

Held at the Gibson Hotel, the event is Ireland’s largest disability-focused gathering, bringing together advocates, stakeholders, and supporters from across the country to drive forward a bold agenda for disability rights and inclusion in 2026. This flagship conference provides a critical platform for individuals supported by Rehab to voice their concerns and advocate for meaningful change

The conference comes at a critical moment following the Government’s recent launch of Ireland’s new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People, designed to deliver on commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Opening proceedings, President Connolly emphasised the importance of translating rights into tangible change in people’s everyday lives, a theme that will underpin the conference’s central discussion.

“I see this national advocacy conference as an act of solidarity, an important platform to hear the voices of the 12,800 individuals who currently access Rehab services, along with their families and loved ones,” said President Connolly.

“Ensuring that we have full participation, that we develop policies to enable inclusion, equality and active citizenship for all, is surely the basis of a thriving republic.”

While the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People signals ambition, today’s conference will confront a stark reality that for many people with disabilities, the rising cost of disability, compounded by the broader cost-of-living crisis, is preventing people from living independently, accessing employment, and exercising basic rights. With a public consultation currently underway and a national summit on the cost of disability scheduled for May, the issue has rapidly become one of the most urgent social policy challenges facing Ireland.

Rehab advocates warn that global instability, including escalating international tensions and economic pressures, will exacerbate what is already disproportionately affecting people with disabilities, who face higher daily living costs.

A high-profile panel bringing together voices from healthcare, policy, research and lived experience will take centre stage this afternoon to explore how the new strategy can drive real, meaningful change. Among those taking part are GP and disability rights campaigner Dr Austin O’Carroll, Jane Ann Duffy, Head of the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality’s Disability Equality Policy Unit, Eurofound’s Senior Research Manager, Daphne Ahrendt, and disability advocate Hayleigh Keogh, Vice Chairperson of Rehab’s National Advocacy Committee.

The conversation will shine a light on the real cost of disability in everyday life, the persistent barriers to employment and independent living, and the role of EU policy, particularly as Ireland prepares for its EU Presidency later this year. Crucially, the panel will also examine how Government commitments can move beyond ambition and deliver tangible outcomes for people with disabilities.

Rehab Group CEO, Laura Keane highlighted the need for urgent, practical action. “We know the disabled community still faces significant barriers to accessing healthcare, transport, education, jobs, recreation, and political participation. They also face a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion, which is exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. Now is the time for decision-makers to recognise the cost of disability and invest in services and supports that sincerely reflect the lives of disabled people. As the State prepares for its next phase of leadership in Europe, and with increasing public attention on the cost of disability, the challenge is no longer policy design but delivery. The question now facing policymakers is clear: can Ireland move from commitment to real change and ensure that people with disabilities can live lives of their choosing?”

For further information or to request an interview, contact Ciara.heffernan@rehab.ie or call 087 972 8513