REVIEW OF HOW SERVICES FUNDED URGENTLY NEEDED - INCLUSION IRELAND

Inclusion Ireland has today called for an urgent review of how services for people with an intellectual disability are funded. Speaking at the launch of the organization’s Budget Submission, CEO Deirdre Carroll called on the Government to ensure people with an intellectual disability are fully included in Irish society. Saying this necessitated “brave changes”, Ms. Carroll said strong measures are needed to ensure commitments are met that were outlined in the National Disability Strategy, The Social Partnership Agreement ‘Towards 2016’ and the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion:

“Failure to meet these commitments will have very negative consequences for people with an intellectual disability living in Ireland, and will send out the wrong message. Internationally, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities must be ratified by the Government in 2008.”  Chairperson Finula Garrahy reiterated Inclusion Ireland’s call for the Government to introduce a non-means tested payment for all full-time carers, saying it “makes good economic sense”:“The cost of a full non-means tested carer’s allowance, so a person can staying living with their family, is €11,000 per annum. The cost of residential care is a minimum of €70,000 per annum. In monetary terms there is no comparison, and the benefit of staying in the family home is immeasurable.”

Inclusion Ireland’s Priority Issues for Budget 2008 are:

• Review Funding Arrangements for People with an Intellectual Disability & Promote Innovative Measures for Providing Supported Living and Respite Services End Waiting Lists for ServicesComplete Transfer of People with an Intellectual Disability from Psychiatric Hospitals to the CommunityIntroduce National Standards for Disability Services
• Further Relax Means Test for Carer’s Allowance & Create more Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

ENDS

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