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
PwDI has called for the immediate establishment of a cross-party Working Group to review the reduction of benefits for people with a disability who take up work.
PwDI Chief Executive Michael Ringrose said of particular concern was the withdrawal of medical cards from people with a disability who take up work.
"Such a situation is an immediate disincentive to work and is totally unfair to a vulnerable section of society,"
he said. "At present, any person with a disability who earns more than €120 per week looses some benefit. This situation needs to be redressed without delay."
"However, this is an issue that crosses a number of Government Departments,"
he added. "It has implications for the Department of Health & Children, Social & Family Affairs, Enterprise, Trade & Employment and, of course, Finance. It is unjust that people with a disability who secure employment can lose their medical card or other entitlements because of their condition. The Government should establish a Working Group to review the situation."
Mr Ringrose said he welcomed recent comments by An Tanaiste, Mary Harney TD that she intends to take action on the issue. Such a move by the Government to remove this obstacle would be most appropriate during the European Year of People with Disabilities.
"FÁS research indicates that the loss of a medical card to people with a disability is a disincentive to taking up work,"
he added. "But the possession of a medical card is clearly something that may be essential to many of them."
Mr Ringrose added that given the fact that one in every 10 people suffers from some form of disability, it behoves the Government to act as a matter of extreme urgency on this issue.
Mr Ringrose also expressed disappointment at reports that the Irish Government had opposed a proposal at the EU's Council's Working Group on Human Rights that would enshrine the rights of people with a disability in international law.
He called on the Government to reverse this position and to become a leading advocate for the world's estimated 600 million vulnerable sector.
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