Rónán Hession

Intent: To improve the applicant experience for the Work and Access programme

Details: Made representations in relation to Work and Access programme

Intent: Permanent and regular cost of disability is implemented.

Details: Advocated that it is imperative that a permanent and regular cost of disability payment is available to people living with additional costs in relation to their disability.

Intent: To ensure clarity and ease of access to the Heat supplement and and supplementary welfare allowance

Details: Seeking clarification on accessing the Heat Supplement and supplementary welfare allowance

Intent: A permanent and regular cost of disability payment is implemented.

Details: Advocated that is it imperative that a permanent and regular cost of disability payment is available to people living with additional costs in relation to their disability.

Intent: To progress the 34 commitments contained in the Programme for Government for family carers

Details: Programme for government- to advance carers issues within the Dáil

Intent: To advocate the Autistic community's likelihood of experiencing poverty and their needs arising from that as the Department looks to work on the cost of disability.

Details: Workshop with the Department of Social Protection on the Cost of Disability

Intent: To express concern about the measures in Budget 2026 for Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) and how increases will be applied to employers with more than 2 WSS employees

Details: Attendance at DSP Consultative Forum and discussion with Ministerial Adviser and DSP officials about Wage Subsidy Scheme

Intent: Participation in roundtable discussion

Details: Request to engage with Roundtable event on Barriers faced by Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse

Intent: To discuss the context for Budget 2026, offering analysis of current minimum living costs and projected inflation, the role of one off vs permanent measures, and the potential impact of the approach taken in Budget 2026. ::To discuss progress on the benchmarking of working age social protection payments. ::To highlight potential issues with proposals for a means tested second tier of Child Benefit, and the importance of retaining a higher rate of support for older children.

Details: Bilateral meeting the Dept of Social Protection officials as part of Community & Voluntary Pillar

Intent: Highlight the importance of implementing a cost of disability payment for those in receipt of Disability Allowance. The meeting also focused on how the Strategic Focus Network could be accessible for community members.

Details: AsIAm was invited to attend a meeting which explored the Strategic Focus Networks on Cost of Disability under the National Human Rights Disability Strategy