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
The latest ESRI research on poverty, published on 11th April, points to the absolute need for the long recommended Cost of Disability payment, according to PwDI Chief Executive Michael Ringrose:
“The latest study shows, yet again, that people with disabilities are amongst the most at risk of consistent poverty. We are now ten years on from the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, which first recommended such a payment. And at the launch of this ESRI study we have a Government Minister telling us that the eradication of poverty in Irish society remains one of the highest priorities of the Government.
“Yet, there are no indications from Government that we are anywhere near implementing this 10 year old recommendation,” he said.
The Cost of Disability payment is based on the fact that people with disabilities have higher fuel, transport and general cost of living expenses than the rest of the community.
“The need for the cost of disability payment is very well established. The Government must act on it and prevent people with disabilities from falling deeper into poverty,” said Mr Ringrose.
A National Disability Authority report, published in 2004, found that a weekly payment of €40 is needed to meet the extra costs associated with a high level of disability, down to €10 for moderate disabilities.
“This is an equality issue,” said Mr Ringrose. “A person with a disability on the same income as a person without a disability has a lower standard of living because of the extra costs associated with disability.”
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