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| Newsletter: January 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NAMHI NOTES ISSUE NO.21 - JANUARY 2004 In this Newsletter: 1. Budget 2004namhi welcomes the additional €25 million provided in 2004 to support persons with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities, announced by Minister McCreevy on the 3rd December, Budget Day. The funding will be used to provide additional emergency residential placements and extra day services, particularly for school leavers. We know that in the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) €4 million is to be made available for services for people with intellectual disability and autism. While this extra funding is welcomed, it falls far short of the €35million called for by namhi to create new residential, day & respite places for people with intellectual disability. The money will prevent the debacle of last year’s budget when no extra money was made available for school leavers and people in emergency situations, which led to a lengthy public campaign by namhi and other groups, resulting in the Government coming up with a package of €50million for people with disabilities in July 2003. The Budget will have a limited impact on the current waiting list of over 2,300 people with intellectual disabilities who are on waiting lists for day or residential services. namhi has called for minimum targets to be set to clear waiting lists over the next five years. Capital and revenue funding must be on a roll over basis such as that outlined by Minister McCreevy for other areas of investment. Main Social Welfare ChangesCarers
People with Disabilities
Yet again, the failure to abolish the means test for the Carer’s Allowance is a cause of great disappointment to many carers. The practice of allowing eligible carers to receive only one social welfare payment continues to dismay groups such as widows who are in receipt of a widow’s pension but who are also carers. Either these carers must opt for their widow’s pension or the means tested Carer’s Allowance. Those choosing to maintain their widow’s pension do not get the Respite Care Grant. The Respite Care Grant is payable only to those in receipt of a Carer’s Allowance or Domiciliary Care Allowance.
2. Rights Make the Difference Campaign The Taoiseach met with the Disability Legislation Consultation Group (DLCG) on 28th November 2003. He made a commitment at the meeting that the Disability Bill would be published by the end of January 2004. namhi and other groups joined in a petition campaign over the last few months calling for the Bill to ensure rights for people with disability. Nearly 70,000 signatures were gathered. These were presented to Minister of State, Willie O’Dea at Dáil Éireann on 10th December, International Day for Human Rights. We would like to thank all those who gave their time and effort around the country in gathering the signatures. namhi looks forward to commenting on the Bill when it is published. Meanwhile, the Education for Persons with Disability Bill is at committee stage in the Dáil and is expected to be enacted by the end of January.
3. Federations, Networks, Umbrella Bodies Grant namhi is pleased to announce it is to receive a grant of €40,000 per annum over three years from the Dept of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs under the Funding Scheme to support the role of Federations, Networks & Umbrella Bodies in the Community & Voluntary Sector. namhi made an application for funding under the scheme to extend the Advocacy Project. The funding will be used to employ a second Advocacy Information Officer. It is hoped that the new Advocacy Information Officer will help develop other forms of advocacy, particularly for those who cannot advocate for themselves. This position will be advertised in mid January.
This fund was set up under The Dormant Accounts Act 2001 to distribute the millions of Euro held in dormant bank accounts within the State. The initial sum to be distributed is €165 million. The Act specifies that money from the fund will be distributed to ‘programmes or projects designed to assist the personal, educational and social development of persons who are economically, educationally, or socially disadvantaged, or persons with a disability. Funding of not more than €30million a year will be distributed to successful applications for once-off projects with preference given to capital spending as opposed to services. Guidelines and application forms are available from: Area Development Management Ltd., Holbrook House, Holles St., Dublin 2, Tel: 01 2400700, Email: enquiries@adm.ie or they can be downloaded from www.dormantaccounts.ie
Who Decides & How? The newly published namhi discussion document on legal capacity and decision making for people with intellectual disability was officially launched on 17th December in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Patricia Rikard Clarke, Commissioner with the Law Reform Commission speaking at the launch said the Law Reform Commission is hoping to publish a further discussion document on the issue of capacity following on from their document on the Law and the Elderly. Directory of Services - The newly updated Directory is now available from the namhi office Mental Illness the Neglected Quarter, Marginalised Groups - is the fourth in a series of discussion documents on mental illness in Ireland published by Amnesty International. This last in the series covers mental illness and people with intellectual disability as well as mental illness and other marginalised groups. It is available from Amnesty for €6, 01 6776361 Jigsaw of Advocacy - This new Comhairle publication looks at the concept of advocacy and brings together examples of practice, in both Ireland and abroad. It also looks at policies supporting advocacy and advocacy within Comhairle’s present remit as well as methods and structures that may enhance Comhairle’s service in the future. It is available free of charge from Comhairle: 01 6059000
Me, Blue and You against Discrimination namhi & Inclusion Europe will host this European Traveling Art Exhibition at Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Foster Place, Dublin 2 from 12th – 23rd January 2004 This is namhi’s contribution to European Year of People with Disabilities, 2003. It will mark the official end of the exhibition of art by people with intellectual disability from all over Europe. The pieces were chosen from over 800 entrants from all over Europe. Geraldine McEvoy & Mary Francis Leahy from Laois, are two Irish artists who worked together on a piece displayed in the Exhibition. Another Irish artist, Finola Lennon from Dundalk will also have a piece on display. All are welcome to attend. Well-known Irish artist Guggi will formally open the exhibition on 14thJanuary 2004. Regional Meetings 2004 -Mid Western Regional Meeting - Mon 2nd Feb 04 Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare, 8pm -Southern Regional Meeting- Kerry Tues 3rd Feb 04 Kerry Parents & Friends, Port Road, Killarney, 8pm -Southern Regional Meeting- Cork - Mon 9th Feb 04 Jury’s Hotel, Cork, 8pm -South Eastern Regional Meeting - Tues 10th Feb 04 Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny, 8pm -Eastern Regional Meeting - Wed 24th March 04 Mont Clare Hotel, Dublin, 8pm AGm 2004 The namhi AGM 2004 with the theme Family, Relationships - Towards Independent Living will take place in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Co Louth on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th April. Notice of AGM and bookings forms will be sent to members in January.
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Inclusion
Ireland, Unit C2, The Steelworks, Foley Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
Tel: 01 8559891 Fax: 01 8559904 Email: info@inclusionireland.ie |