Each of the 26 disability organisations - including MS Ireland - who applied for the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) have had their funding denied. The annual Department of the Environment scheme provides essential funding to charities nationwide.
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the umbrella organisation representing people with neurological conditions, and each of their 11 members also lost their funding. This is vital funding and as a result, the NAI now faces having to cease operations after losing its core funding.
Speaking on Newstalk this morning Mags Rogers of the NAI said:
"If there had been a deliberate attempt to remove people with neurological conditions from the public agenda, this couldn't have been done more effectively. Not only have all the neurological charities failed to secure funding under this scheme. The only representative organisation [NAI] will have to cease operation.
Neurological conditions are the most significant cause of adult disability. We would support a minister for disability who would recognise that people with disabilities are the most disadvantaged in Irish society, particularly those with neurological conditions like MS, stroke, epilepsy and there are 7000,000 people with neurological conditions in Ireland."
In the same interview Alexis Donnelly noted the economic impact of this decision:
"If you’re arguing on the basis of economics, that these cuts are the way to go, it is demonstrably inefficient. These organisations are providing services that the State isn’t and they're doing it probably better, and cheaper certainly.
If you cut these organisations, these 700,000 people with neurological conditions will at some stage - undoubtedly - need the help of these organisations."
The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) have sent a letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny calling for the funding to be reinstated. John Dolan, CEO DFI, says:
"This is an issue which requires immediate and resolute action: these organisations and the thousands of people they support have been left stranded and struggling following the retraction of this funding. With both the Cabinet reshuffle and the imminent summer recess set to bear an impact on the work of the Government, it is imperative that this vital matter is not allowed to slip between the cracks."
MS Ireland is a member of both the NAI and the DFI. We fully support each organisation's campaign to highlight this extreme cut to funding and we will work together to ensure the needs of people with MS are addressed.
More information
- Mags Rogers (NAI) and MS Ireland advocate Alexis Donnelly interviewed on Newstalk 14/07
- Irish Independent article 10/07