TDs must stop talking and take action – support people with disabilities and vote against social welfare budget

Inclusion Ireland calls on TDs to vote against the Social Welfare Bill this evening, to ensure people with disabilities and their families do not shoulder the burden of this Budget. TDs and Senators can take a stand on dog breeding legislation and bypasses, but are not standing up for people with disabilities in the Oireachtas.

Speeches and press releases expressing their dismay at ‘cuts to the vulnerable’ mean little if they do not take a stand when it counts. A TD’s most important role is his or her vote in the Dáil – Inclusion Ireland today calls on TDs to not simply talk about how hard things are for people with disabilities and their families, but to take real action and vote against the Social Welfare Bill.

People on Disability Allowance and Carers Allowance received cuts of €8 a week in Tuesday’s Budget, having received the same cut the previous year.
An €8 cut to Disability Allowance (DA) in this year’s Budget along with cuts of €8.30 in last year’s budget means that people are down €847.60 a year since 2008. The new rate of DA is €188.00 per week down from €196 in 2010. The new rate of Carers Allowance is €204.00 per week down from €212 in 2010.

This continued erosion of social welfare allowances will have a dire impact on the direct living standards of people with disabilities and their families.

ENDS

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