People with Disabilities in Ireland
4th Floor Jervis House
Jervis Street
Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 87 21 74 4
Fax: 01 87 21 77 1
Email: info@pwdi.ie
Time to reflect!
By JAMES McCLEAN, National ChairPERSON, Pwdi
Welcome to the latest edition of our PwDI newsletter.
I hope that in 2006 our members witnessed increasing signs of a positive shift in the attitude of all Irish citizens towards people with disabilities.
The demand for equal participation of people with disabilities in
Irish society is nothing less than a basic human right.
We have seen the beginning of the implementation of the National Disability Strategy. The key elements of this Strategy are:
• The Disability Act 2005
• The Sectoral Plans for delivery of services to people with Disabilities prepared by 6 Government Departments
• The Citizens Information Bill 2006
• The e900 million targeted at high priority disability support services
• The EPSEN Education Act.
This Strategy has been endorsed in “Towards 2016”. This contains commitments to monitoring the strategy, such as, progress reports on the six Sectoral Plans and reviews of the Disability Act 2005. It is of utmost importance that the government continues to have a constructive relationship with major stakeholders in relation to monitoring the strategy.
PwDI is among the 6 national organisations in the new
National Disability Strategy Stakeholder Monitoring Group.
Our organisation will strive to ensure that feedback from
people with disabilities who use services will be a priority in
our reports. If the customer isn’t getting the service he/she
needs then tough questions will have to be asked.
While this work is very important to PwDI at national level we know that it is just as vital to continue to be involved via our Networks. After all, the Networks are the lifeblood of the organisation. They are involved in all types of consultation at local and regional level. More forums are being set up by various state and statutory bodies, such as the HSE, Local and County Councils as well as Government departments, such as those dealing with employment strategies, communication and information services and transport.
We really are pushing an open door here regarding our involvement in this process and we have to capitalise on this opportunity to ensure that ALL people with various types of disabilities are being fully represented.
Our members at local level are invaluable due to their local knowledge and contacts. The Networks must ensure that the representatives on the Monitoring Group have the breadth of knowledge required and are briefed by their members on the issues that are affecting them. You can’t beat local knowledge when it comes to finding solutions to local problems.
All in all 2007 and beyond holds the potential for some major positive changes in the lives of people with disabilities in Ireland.
I wish to acknowledge all the hard work carried out
by our members in 2006.
I sincerely wish all PwDI, members, staff and management
a joyful and prosperous 2007.
James McClean
National Chairperson
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