FEAR REMAINS OVER HEALTH BUDGET

Inclusion Ireland says that if the Government is committed to protecting society’s vulnerable, then disability funding must be ring-fenced. Inclusion Ireland represents people with an intellectual disability, across the life cycle.

CEO Deirdre Carroll is relieved to hear Minister Lenihan’s statement that the Government is determined to protect the most vulnerable in society, but says concerns remain that multi-annual funding will be cut when the health budget is announced in the coming days.

Ms. Carroll says “There is tremendous fear among people with an intellectual disability and their families that there will be cuts within the health budget that will further cut back what little services they have. Value for money is an important concept that Inclusion Ireland supports, rather than simple, crude cuts, particularly to frontline staff. Minister Lenihan said that as priorities change, so staff numbers must be realigned. Inclusion Ireland hopes that frontline staff do not suffer in the future.

“If the HSE receives the 2.5 per cent increase outlined by Minister Lenihan, then this will just about cover increases from this year to last. As things stand, lack of services for people with an intellectual disability mean that people in dire need of one-on-one therapy services, for example, are not getting that service.

“If budgets are further cut back next year then the opportunity for people with an intellectual disability to develop and to receive basic levels of care, will be seriously diminished. €17 million was this year cut from the €50 million that was promised as multi-annual funding. One of the areas this funding goes towards is creating training and day service placements for people with a disability who are leaving school. Inclusion Ireland once again calls for disability funding to be ring-fenced.

ENDS

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