Republican News · Thursday 20 February 2003

Reverse cuts for disability services" - Ó Caoláin

Cuts imposed on government spending for services for people with disabilities should be reversed, according to Cavan/Monaghan TD and Sinn Féin Health spokesperson, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. He reminded the PD members of the government that their leader, Mary Harney, had said that "the mentally handicapped deserve priority" in the allocation of resources.

Ó Caoláin was speaking in a Dáil debate in support of a motion calling on the government to support people with disabilities, both through proper funding and the introduction of rights-based legislation. He said that "as a party striving to create an Ireland of equals, Sinn Féin is committed to bringing about equality for people with disabilities". He told the Dáil:

"The enormous goodwill of the Irish people towards people with disabilities is evidenced in the widespread involvement of the public in helping to prepare for the Special Olympics World Games, which will be held later this year. This is in sharp contrast to the attitude shown by the government to the high levels of poverty and social exclusion faced by people with disabilities.

"People with mental handicap and intellectual disabilities and their families remain among the most neglected groups of people in this country.

"The severe cut in the budget allocated to the health boards for mentally handicapped services in 2003 is scandalous - it has gone from §38 million to §13.3 million. These cuts have been described by the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies and the National Association of the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland as bringing us back to the mid-1990s, to the period when that letter was written by Deputy Harney. The caring agencies and the voluntary bodies cannot maintain existing services, let alone proceed with badly needed new developments. It will mean longer waiting lists for day care, respite care and essential long-term residential care.

"The government must re-examine its priorities. People with disabilities need to be assured that the funding that sector is to receive is protected, even in times of economic downturn. Funding must be ring-fenced and index linked. It must continue to address not only current service needs but also the needs of those who have yet to be addressed within the wider configuration of that demand."