December 2009

 

INCLUSION IRELAND SLAMS CUTS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

 

Inclusion Ireland rejects cuts to people on Disability Allowance and Carers Allowance, as an attack on the direct living standards and the quality of life of people with disabilities. The Disability Allowance now stands at €196 a week, and this cutback is compounded by other cuts to child benefit, the prescription levy and cuts in dental treatment. This does not tie in with rhetoric about protecting the vulnerable, nor do cuts to the health budget. It is also at variance with the National Disability Strategy, which is often spoken about by Government as evidence of their commitment to people with disabilities. The moratorium on recruitment and other cuts to the healthcare budget will impact directly on the services people with a disability can expect to receive.

In addition, cuts to agencies which protect people with a disability and prevent them from being discriminated against on the grounds of disability, such as the Equality Tribunal and the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA)*, will further disadvantage people with a disability. The Equality Tribunal and the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA) have both suffered cuts of approx. 8%. These are frontline agencies working to promote and protect people’s rights and make very real differences in people’s lives.  

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

*The Equality Tribunal and HIQA play a vital role in the protection of people with a disability. In post-Budget statements from Disability Minister John Moloney and Health Minister Mary Harney, the importance of regulation and inspection of services for children and adults with a disability and older people in nursing homes were highlighted. But the budget for HIQA, which is mandated to regulate and inspect services, was cut. This simply doesn’t add up. Similarly, after Budget 2009, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern emphasised the important role of the Tribunal, but the Tribunal’s budget has now been cut.

• HIQA: there is currently no independent inspection of disability services for children and adults. Minister Moloney has committed to implementing independent inspection and regulation of children’s services in 2011 and bringing proposals to Government in early 2010 for adults in disability services. HIQA are charged with inspecting and regulating services so what impact will cuts to this agency have?
• Equality Tribunal: One example of the many disability cases the Equality Tribunal has heard involves a young man with an intellectual disability, who under Department of Education policy on special needs schools, was forced to complete his education by the age of 18, while his peers without a disability could continue their education past 18. The Tribunal ordered the Department to view this policy and found in favour of the young man.

 

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