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
People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI), the national organisation representing all people with disabilities, today called on the Government to make substantial amendments to the Disability Bill when it considers the issue at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting.
Chief Executive of PwDI, Michael Ringrose said today:
"Nothing less than substantial change will make this Bill acceptable to people with disabilities. The Bill in its current form is riddled with opt outs with constant references to `where practicable' and `where possible'.
Highlighting Section 14 (11) and (12) on complaints and appeals, by way of example, he said. "This section allows the CEO of the health services to disregard the recommendation by the complaints officer if it is not possible or practicable to provide the service or if it would result in the budget being exceeded."
"Also following the comprehensive assessment of need there is no obligation whatever on health authorities, in the event that they cannot provide a particular service in year one, to do so in the subsequent year."
Mr Ringrose said:
"The framing of this Bill is reminiscent of the bygone attitude to welfare entitlements, which said don't tell people about their entitlements because it might increase the claim load. It speaks volumes about where legislators thinking and attitudes are when it comes to disability.
"If this Bill is not changed substantially the hopes of 400,000 people throughout Ireland will be severely dented," he said.
Mr Ringrose went on to say that statements emanating from Government Ministers in recent weeks give rise to concerns among people with disabilities that the Government's disability strategy will result in little material change for them in their daily lives, be it attempting to access education, work or health services.
"One senior Government Minister acknowledged that a high proportion of the additional disability spending will go on staffing and that service providers will be responsible for ensuring that programmes are implemented. There is no one responsible for co-ordinating disability at Government level. That is deeply worrying," he said.
He said that another Minister acknowledged in the Dáil that the implementation of proper standards will take years.
Further information:
Michael Ringrose 087-2804590
Mairead Foley 086-2556764
<< Previous Press Release |Next Press Release >> | Back to index