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
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This report reflects the views and concerns around the development of an advocacy service in Ireland. The five regional seminars held throughout the country and attended, in very large numbers, by people with disabilities, as well as service providers, forms the content that this report now documents.
Most importantly this report will inform the next step - the development of a best practice document for a formal advocacy service in Ireland. Not only do we now know what people with disabilities want but we have also been guided in terms of setting priorities. We plan to hold a National Conference in 2005, which should help crystallise the content of a best practice document on advocacy.
I am deeply grateful to a number of experts who gave so generously of their time and whose contributions helped to ensure that this is a fully rounded report. I want to thank Dr Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission and Clodach McGrory, also of the Commission; Mairíde Woods, Helen Laharte and Jacinta O'Connell of Comhairle; Angela Kerins, Chairperson and Claire O'Connor, Director, of the National Disability Authority and of course, former Dáil Deputy and professional social worker, Frances Fitzgerald, author of this report. I also want to thank the Board of PwDI and all those who assisted as rapporteurs and facilitators and Tim Ryan and Mairéad Foley of Foley Ryan Communications.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the PwDI Networks throughout the country for their support and for ensuring the resounding success of the seminars.