Ireland is investing further in inclusive innovation, with gov.ie confirming more than €1 million in support for new disability-focused digital initiatives. The latest announcement from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality highlights how assistive technology can strengthen independence, access, and participation for people across all stages of life.
Announced by Minister Norma Foley, the funding will be delivered through the Health Service Executive (HSE) CREATE III programme. The initiative backs nine projects designed to improve support for people with sensory, cognitive, physical, and intellectual disabilities, while also helping families, service providers, and communities build stronger pathways to inclusion.
gov.ie funding boost for assistive technology in Ireland
The new package reflects a broader government priority spanning Health, Social Protection, Education, and Children/Disability/Equality. While the announcement sits within the disability policy space, its impact reaches much further into employment, community access, and digital participation.
According to the announcement, the CREATE III programme is focused on unmet needs and practical solutions that help people take part more fully in:
- Work and training
- Education and lifelong learning
- Leisure and recreation
- Daily communication and mobility
- Community life and independent living
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is leading delivery, continuing work from earlier CREATE rounds that already expanded assistive technology pathways and digital confidence supports.
Nine projects awarded support
The funded projects span national organisations, disability service providers, and specialist programmes. They include:
- Disability Federation of Ireland and Enable Ireland – Community Hub for Assistive Technology
- Inclusion Ireland with Corlann and St. Michael’s House – accessible information standards
- St John of God Community Services – DigiCoach Project
- The Rehab Group – DAT Works: Tech for Talent
- St John of God Community Services Dublin Southeast – Positive Ageing, Living Stronger
- St. Michael’s House with HSE DISQI – Digital Supports for Persons with Disabilities
- Central Remedial Clinic – early powered mobility pilot
- HSE Community Healthcare West CDNT Mayo – early assistive technology clinic
- The Anne Sullivan Centre – deafblind assistive technology library expansion
Most projects received €125,000, while three specialist initiatives were awarded €75,000 each.
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How the Revenue Commissioners, HSE and wider public services connect to digital inclusion
Although this is a disability funding announcement, it also reflects a wider trend across Irish public bodies including the Revenue Commissioners, Department of the Taoiseach, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Local Government and Heritage: services are increasingly expected to be accessible by design. For people with disabilities, that means digital systems must work in real life, not just in policy documents.
Several of the projects aim to solve recurring barriers such as affordability, low awareness, limited training, and inconsistent access to assistive devices. Others focus on specific groups, including autistic jobseekers, older adults with intellectual disabilities, young children with complex needs, and people who are deafblind.
Why CREATE III matters
The importance of CREATE III is not just the funding total. Its significance lies in the model it supports:
- Co-designed services involving people with lived experience
- Practical pilots that can be scaled nationally
- Training and community resource hubs
- Stronger links between disability services and wider public systems
This approach aligns with national accessibility goals and complements the work of public agencies such as HIQA, Tusla, the Citizens Information Board, and the National Disability Authority (NDA), all of which play roles in improving service quality and inclusion.
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What this means for disability services and families
For families and service users, the projects promise more than new devices. They point to better training, peer coaching, easier access to information, trial libraries, and earlier intervention for children. For employers and educators, they offer tools to improve accessibility and confidence in inclusive practice.
That makes this gov.ie announcement especially relevant for anyone following Irish disability policy, digital inclusion, or public service reform. As these projects develop, they could influence future thinking across Health, Further and Higher Education, Transport, and community services.
In short, the latest gov.ie funding package is a meaningful step toward making assistive technology more available, more practical, and more embedded in everyday life across Ireland.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
