National Advocacy Service funding insufficient – Ruairí Ó Murchú TD
26 March 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability, Ruairí Ó Murchú TD, has said that there is insufficient funding for the National Advocacy Service (NAS) who provide important supports for people living with a disability.
Deputy Ó Murchú said that the NAS provides independent and representative advocacy on a one-to-one basis for people with disabilities, and has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from community and services, have communication difficulties, or have limited informal or natural supports.
According to CSO data, since the establishment of the NAS in 2011, the number of adults living with a disability in Ireland has increased by 85% from 528,898 people in 2011 to 977,793 people in 2022.
Teachta Ó Murchú said:
“This represents a huge increase in numbers, which adds further pressure to the NAS waiting lists.
“The NAS has the same number of full-time staff members as it did in 2016, even though the number of people living with a disability increased by 72% from 2016 to 2022.
“It is likely that these numbers will continue to increase, while the Budget allocation for the NAS remains insufficient.
“The NAS is funded by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has a mandate under the Citizens Information Act 2007 to provide advocacy for people with disabilities.
“From 2011 to 2022, the total Budget for the NAS increased by just 12% from €2,810,842 to €3,143,746, while the total number of people living with a disability increased by 85% for the same period.
“From 2022 to 2025, the Budget increased by just 11%. This is clearly insufficient to meet the rise in demand for advocacy services.
“The Government needs to adequately fund the NAS and champion the vital service that it provides. The NAS works every day to help the most vulnerable in our society who need someone to advocate for them.
“It is disappointing that there is no mention of advocacy in the Programme for Government.
“It is time for the Government to step up and commit to advancing and supporting the NAS.”
