January 2009

EQUALITY AUTHORITY’S BUDGET CUT, AS INJUSTICES LIKE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS CONTINUE

Inclusion Ireland has serious concerns over the ability of the Equality Authority to effectively carry out its mandate through taking on new cases and sustaining existing challenges, in light of the cuts made to the Authority’s budget.  

Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll said she is particularly concerned about whether the issue of sheltered workshops will now be taken on by the Authority. In sheltered workshops, people with an intellectual disability are doing real work, that is productive and profit-making, but are not being paid the minimum wage and do not have employment rights.

Ms. Carroll said:

“One of the five Equality Authority Board Members who resigned yesterday specifically referred to the Authority’s ability to investigate sheltered workshops as a result of recent cuts. At an Inclusion Ireland AGM in April 2008, David Begg of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) announced that ICTU had requested that the Equality Authority investigate sheltered workshops. David Joyce of ICTU resigned yesterday. 

“Given that the Equality Authority will now face cuts of 43%, there are substantial doubts as to whether the Authority will be able to continue fighting against such blatant acts of inequality, as the continued practice of sheltered workshops.

"The departure of the Equality Authority’s Chief Executive Niall Crowley, as well as cuts to the Authority and it’s decentralisation to Roscrea, will diminish the Authority’s ability to champion the rights of people with a disability.

 “Inclusion Ireland is very concerned that issues concerning the rights of people with a disability may be sidelined in light of cuts to the Equality Authority.”

 

Inclusion Ireland is a member of the Equality and Rights Alliance, www.eracampaign.org

 

ENDS

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