Frontline Disability Services, Psychologists and Special Needs School Transport must not be ‘Snipped’
– Inclusion Ireland
Inclusion Ireland recognises the serious economic situation facing the country but urges Government not to cut frontline disability services, psychological services, the half rate carers allowance or special needs school transport.
- The ‘Bord Snip’ Group proposes cuts of €50 million out of a total of €2.53 billion to state funded disability and mental health services. The Group observes that “restrictive agreements and work practices, involving trade unions and professional staff organisations, have been a major inhibitor to staffing and pay efficiencies in the Health sector, and a block to good quality patient-focused care.” In October 2008 Minister Moloney also announced that he would establish a value for money review of disability services, which is mentioned in the Bord Snip Report today. Inclusion Ireland reiterates that these cuts must not at the expense of direct services to people with disabilities. Already, a number of young adults and school-leavers have already been informed that there are no further services available for them in September.
- The proposal to suspend additional recruitment to the National Education Psychological Service (NEPS) will have a negative impact on children with an intellectual disability. For the last three years, schools have experienced major delays in getting assessments for children with special needs. Assessments are vitally important to a child’s development. Putting this measure in place is at odds with Disability Minister John Moloney’s announcement last October that €20 million will be provided to special needs services for children, including extra psychologists for NEPS.
- The proposed cut to the half rate carer’s allowance is a retrograde step, which will seriously undermine the important role played by carers. Inclusion Ireland campaigned for the introduction of this allowance particularly for for widows who have children with a disability. 64% of people with an intellectual disability live at home. Places in residential services cost the state over €80,000 per annum. If carers are not supported at home they may have no choice but to place their son or daughter in residential care.
- Inclusion Ireland rejects the proposal to charge for special needs school transport. Some of the children availing of this service are forced to travel long distances to schools as their local school will not accept them. Inclusion Ireland supports the statement that “a change in relation to the provision of escorts would significantly reduce the overall cost of the service”, but the children involved must be not suffer because the service is not run efficiently.
- No decision should be taken on the Group’s assertion that there is scope to reduce the number of special needs assistants until the review of special needs assistants and special schools is completed.
ENDS
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