Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) is urging the Government to use the upcoming budget to leave a positive legacy for people with disabilities.
While there is genuine relief that the economy is recovering, the 600,000 people with disabilities do not consider themselves as being included in the country’s gradual return to prosperity. They continue to feel left behind.
People with disabilities have heard promise after promise since 2008 while enduring some of the most unacceptable cuts to essential supports and services. We now need to hear about concrete and fully funded plans to recover what was lost, the outcomes of which need to be felt by people with a disability, as well as their families, in every village, town, and city in this country.
Budget 2016 is, in essence, the conclusion of the government’s mandate, a mandate which included a clear commitment to protect people with disabilities.
MS Ireland supports the key recommendations listed below.
DFI are therefore calling on the government to now achieve the following.
- Increase disability payments by €20 per week, as an interim measure, to offset the cost of disability.
- Restore the respite care grant to pre-austerity levels by increasing it by €325 per annum.
- Introduce a disability tax credit, similar to the Blind Persons tax credit.
- Grant medical cards based on medical need, not income.
- Make all employment activation programmes eligible to people with disabilities.
- Increase the Housing Adaptation Grant by €30 million to support people with disabilities currently living in communities.
- Cut waiting lists for specialist and mainstream health services by 50% by 2017.
- Increase the disability health budget by at least €50 million each year for the next three years.
- In addition, increase the budget for Personal Assistant services by at least €15 million each year for the next three years.
- Invest an additional €20 million in capital expenditure and €10 million in revenue on a multi-annual basis, to implement the ‘Time to Move On from Congregated Settings’ report.
It is now time for the long-standing exclusion of people with disabilities to end. This Budget should recognise them as equal citizens in society by supporting people with disabilities to live full and meaningful lives. The brunt of austerity must finally be lifted from those who have suffered the most. People with disabilities are resolved that there will be “No Recovery Without Us”.
Read the DFI pre budget submission in full here
Further reading