2006 Pre Budget Submission

Issued on June 1 2007

"The Government''s core social objective is to ensure that people have the resources and opportunities to live life with dignity and have access to the quality public services that underpin life chances and experiences."

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, TD, Launch of National Disability Strategy, September 2004.

Summary of Recommendations for Budget 2006

Income

  • Government to introduce a Cost of Disability Payment of €40 a week for people with disabilities currently in receipt of a means tested social welfare payment. This payment to be extended to all people with disabilities in the subsequent two Budgets.
  • Disability Allowance to be increased by €17 to €165.80 in line with the commitment in the NAPS review.

Community Employment

  • Government to begin the mainstreaming of the 1,651 participantsand 100 supervisors on the CE schemes which provide services topeople with disabilities by allocating an extra €11.2m.

Accommodation and Services for People who Experience Mental Illness

  • Government to invest €13.9m to provide a range of appropriate supports and training for people who are long-stay in mental hospitals, and a further €13.9m in next year''s Budget.
  • Government to invest €50m towards the provision of a range of housing options, in addition to the revenue raised through the sale of State land and property. The housing options should include crisis, respite, and supported residential accommodation.

Adults with Significant Disabilities

  • Government to invest €50m to address the residential needs of adults with significant disabilities who are inappropriately accommodated at present.
  • Government to invest €25m in Budget 2006 in home support, respite care, personal assistance and day care places for adults with significant disabilities and a further €25m in Budget 2007 in recognition of the commitment given to providing the linked services required by this group of people within the multi-annual funding package.

Disabled Person''s Housing Grant

  • Government to increase the overall allocation to DPG by €35m to €105m and amend the Grant Scheme so that Local Authorities can recoup the full cost of DPG from Central Exchequer Funds.
  • Government to reform the scheme, so that Local Authorities are given the power to pay the full costs of adaptations undertaken by people with disabilities.

Children as Carers of People with Disabilities

  • Government to commit to undertaking a study on children as carers.
  • Government to invest an additional €20m in services such as personal assistance, care attendants and home help, so that people with disabilities are no longer dependent on their children for their basic everyday care. Government to invest a further €20m in Budget 2007.

Funding for Voluntary Disability Organisations

  • Government to provide core funding of €5m within a distinct budget line to secure the future of voluntary disability organisations and grant them the opportunity to build the capacity of the voluntary disability sector.
  • Government to provide a further additional investment of €5m in Budget 2007 and continue this line of investment in subsequent Budgets to support the capacity building of the sector.

1. Introduction

Budget 2006 will be an important indicator of theGovernment''s ongoing commitment to addressing the needs ofpeople with disabilities and in supporting them to achieve theirfull potential. We welcome and acknowledge the focus on, and theincreased funding for, people with disabilities and disabilityservices in Budget 2005. We also welcome the introduction of theprocess of multi-annual funding last year. However, this was just afirst step in dealing with the significant unmet needs which denymany people with disabilities basic services and prevent them fromparticipating in and contributing to Irish society.

Last year we called for a sustained and increased investment forthe remainder of the Government''s term of office. In Budget2005, the Government responded and delivered some of the additionalresources required. This must not be a once off occurrence and inBudget 2006 the Government must allocate a second installment ofadditional funding for supports and services for people withdisabilities to build on this foundation.

While the multi-annual funding announced last year was animportant development, it represented just a fraction of theresources required to undo decades of under funding. Themulti-annual funding package targeted a small number of supportservices with limited resources. The actual funding allocated wasinsufficient to meet the service improvements it was proposed thisfunding would deliver. In last year''s Budget it was announcedthat 250,000 extra hours in home support and personal assistanceservices would be funded per annum from 2005 to 2009. However, theprojected cost of providing these services was made on the basis ofan hourly cost of €10.50, when the actual cost of deliveringthese services is approximately €20. Indeed, not only have wea long way to go to address unmet needs, there are many areas ofgreat need which have yet to be officially recorded.

We note that the Government is aware of the need for ongoinginvestment in disability services. Minister Cowan, in his Budgetspeech stated that additional and increased resources on an ongoingbasis are necessary for disability services. We expect theGovernment to follow through on this commitment in Budget 2006.

"What I am dealing with today are certain high-priority services. However, I want to make it clear that other disability services will also continue to be dealt with as a normal part of the annual estimates process and will receive extra funding going forward as overall budgetary circumstances permit." 1 Minister Brian Cowan TD, December 2004.

The most recent economic forecasts from a number of Governmentand independent sources indicate that the Irish economy is growingstrongly at present. The Department of Finance, the ESRI and theCentral Bank predict that Irish GNP willgrow by between 4.7% and 5.4% in 20052. This economic growthprovides the Government with the capacity and considerableresources to address the many deficits in our social services. Itis imperative that the Government continues to invest in peoplewith disabilities so that they can play their full part in Irishsociety.

Budget 2006 is also significant in that it precedes thenegotiation of a new National Agreement to succeed"Sustaining Progress". In 2003, DFI became a socialpartner representing the voluntary disability sector as part of theCommunity and Voluntary Pillar. We have fully participated in andcontributed to the process. It is important that Governmentresponds in a positive way to the matters we bring forward in theprocess, so that social partnership can be seen as deliveringmeaningful and tangible results for people with disabilities. InBudget 2006 we need to see some progress on the issues that havebeen deliberated on within Social Partnership, such as the Cost ofDisability Payment and the Infrastructure of Care.

The publication of the National Disability Strategy last yearrepresented another potential significant development. DFI supportsthe approach that ensuring equality for people with disabilitiescan only be achieved with the effective combination of legislation,policies, institutional arrangements and services underpinned bymulti-annual funding packages. However, the Strategy must beresourced now and well into the future, if it is to make a real andpositive difference in the everyday lives of people withdisabilities. At the launch of the National Disability Strategy theTaoiseach stated;

"The Government''s core social objective is to ensure that people have the resources and opportunities to live life with dignity and have access to the quality public services that underpin life chances and experiences."3 Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, September 2004.

We welcome that commitment andacknowledge that in Budget 2005 the Government did take significantfirst steps in addressing a number of issues. However, as asociety, we still have some way to go to make theGovernment''s stated objective a reality for all. As a keyinstrument of Government policy, it is important that Budget 2006provides continued investment in supports and services for peoplewith disabilities so that they can live life with dignity andachieve their full potential.

What we propose in this Submission is athree pronged approach so that there is balanced and sustainableprogress. In Budget 2006, the Government must deliver:

  • Greater income support for people withdisabilities.
  • Further develop an infrastructure ofcare for people with disabilities.
  • Continue to build the capacity of thevoluntary disability sector.

In summary, in Budget 2006 the Government mustfund the National Disability Strategy so as to provide the means bywhich people with disabilities can vindicate and fully exercisetheir civil, social and human rights.

2. Budget Issues

Income

Cost of Disability Payment

A key measure in supporting people with disabilities toparticipate fully in Irish society would be the introduction of aCost of Disability Payment. The cost of disability can be definedas the amount it costs a disabled person to achieve the samestandard of living as a non-disabled person. It is recognisednationally and internationally that people with disabilities incurmany extra, but ordinary, costs such as food, heating and clothingas a result of their disability. Therefore, DFI calls on theGovernment to introduce a Cost of Disability Payment scheme inBudget 2006. This matter was studied by both the Commission on theStatus of People with Disabilities4 and the National Economic andSocial Forum5 and they both recommended this payment.

As a result of a commitment in the "Programme forProsperity and Fairness", an Interdepartmental Working Groupwas set up in 2000 to examine the feasibility of introducing a Costof Disability Payment Scheme. As part of this process, the NationalDisability Authority also commissioned and published research onthis issue in 2004. The findings of this research "Disabilityand the Cost of Living"6 are based on international evidenceand suggest that the extra cost of living imposed by a disabilityis approximately €40 per week.

A Cost of Disability Payment in line with the recommendations ofthe Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, the NESFand NDA Reports would not only alleviate the problem of deprivationand poverty, but address issues such as equality and participation.The Government has taken major action to address child poverty inrecent years, with Child Benefit rising from €38 a month in1997 to €141.60 in 2005. We now believe that the Governmentmust make a similar effort to tackle poverty among people withdisabilities. We believe that all people with disabilities shouldreceive this payment within three years. However, as a first steptowards this, the Government in Budget 2006 should introduce a Costof Disability Payment of €40 a week for people withdisabilities currently in receipt of a social welfare means testedpayment.

DFI Recommends:

  • Government to introduce a Cost of Disability Payment of€40 a week for people with disabilities currently in receiptof a means tested social welfare payment. This payment should begiven to all people with disabilities in the following twoBudgets.

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance (DA) is an income support payment forpeople with disabilities. Despite a buoyant economy and tightlabour market the levels of unemployment among people withdisabilities remain high. While the national unemployment rate iscurrently 4.2%7, it is estimated that up to 70% of people withdisabilities are unemployed and a recent report indicated that37.5% of those who were ill or disabled were at risk of poverty,13.2% were experiencing basic deprivation and 7.4% wereconsistently poor. These rates are more than twice those for thegeneral population.8 Despite a number of projects and initiativesit is clear that there are still significant barriers preventingpeople with disabilities from accessing the labour market. Whilethe Government must continue to support people with disabilitiesinto employment, it must equally ensure that people withdisabilities who are dependent on DA are not living in poverty andexperiencing deprivation.

We acknowledge that the Government did increase DA by €14to €148.80 in Budget 2005 in line with its National AntiPoverty Strategy (NAPS) commitment to achieve a rate of €150in 2002 terms for the lowest rates of social welfare by 20079. Tomeet this commitment in Budget 2006, we urge the Government tomaintain its commitment to the most vulnerable people withdisabilities and increase DA by €17 to €165.80

DFIRecommends:

  • Disability Allowance to be increased by €17 to€165.80 in Budget 2006 in line with the commitment in the NAPSreview.

Infrastructure of Care

"We all agree on the history of neglect of people with disabilities. The entire structure of the provision of services for people with disabilities grew up through services provided by the religious, particularly the Catholic Church, and services provided by voluntary bodies. Despite the considerable resources that have been made available in recent years, particularly since 1987, we are still trying to catch up."10 Minister of State, Frank Fahey TD May 2005.

It is welcome that the Government recognises that communityservices for people with disabilities are still inadequate andrequire significant investment. It is vital that these services areenhanced and further improved through increased resources, as theyprovide the means by which people with disabilities and theirfamilies and carers can achieve a better quality of life, leadingto full inclusion and equality. However, we do not present therationale for investing in community services for people withdisabilities as solely being justified on moral or social grounds.In our view it also makes economic sense.

Too often investment in supports and services for people withdisabilities are only viewed as a cost to the Exchequer. Thisignores the fact that investment in an infrastructure of care forpeople with disabilities not only benefits the individual recipientin the short term, by facilitating them to live more independently,it also benefits the person and the State in the longer term. Whenthe State provides the resources for better and more appropriateservices, it allows people with disabilities, who were previouslyexcluded to access further education, training, employment, andenables them to make a greater contribution to society. Also,properly resourced community services ensure that the challenges ofcare and support on families is lessened, freeing them tocontribute to our community and society.

Community Employment

Disability services have had a long-term dependence uponemployment support measures to provide services. This dependencegoes back over two decades and progressed through Teamwork, SocialEmployment Schemes and, later, Community Employment. Through theseSchemes community- based supports and services were developed andexpanded.

Community Employment (CE) participants are mainly employed inthe following roles in relation to services to people withdisabilities:

  • Care Assistants in residential homes
  • Care Assistants in day and training centres
  • General Staff for centres
  • Drivers for mini-buses
  • Personal Assistants

It must be emphasised that all of these personal social servicesare very basic and essential services. For many people these were,and are, their only support service and form a lifeline for bothpeople with disabilities and their families. The services providedby CE have now become the mainstay of service provision to peoplewith disabilities.

CE puts considerable strain and pressure on the service usersand on the organisations providing services. They lose highlyexperienced, well-trained andcommitted staff on an ongoing basis when their time on CE expires.The voluntary organisations providing services have to repeatedlytrain new participants, who, in turn, have to acquire skills andexperience and most importantly, develop relationships with serviceusers. However, all stakeholders, service users, voluntaryorganisations and the health services have become dependent on themremaining in place. This must change.

In its 2002 Programme for Government this Administration stated"We are committed to building service provision andlegislative frameworks which enable people with disabilities tofulfil their potential and make a full contribution to the economicand social life of our country."11

In order to meet this commitment, the Government must begin inBudget 2006 to mainstream the services currently provided to peoplewith disabilities through CE. Mainstreaming requires the transferof funding for services provided to people with disabilitiesthrough CE from FÁS to the Health Service Executive. DFI hasidentified 1,651 CE participants and 100 Supervisors12 providingservices to people with disabilities. We estimate that the cost ofmainstreaming these positions into mainstream health services isjust over €34m. However, we estimate that the Department ofEnterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS currently invest€22.8m in these specific schemes. Therefore, to achieve thefull mainstreaming of these specific CE schemes would cost anadditional €11.2m.

DFI Recommends:

  • Government to begin the mainstreaming of the 1,651 participantsand 100 supervisors on the CE Schemes which provide services topeople with disabilities by allocating an additional€11.2m.

Accommodation and Services for People who Experience Mental Illness

The percentage of overall health funding allocated to mentalhealth services has declined steadily in recent years. At presentcurrent funding lies at 7% compared to 9.2% in Northern Ireland and11% in England and Wales.13 The under investment in mental healthservices was brought into sharp focus recently when Tánaisteand Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD, discussedthe facilities available to people at one facility, the CentralMental Hospital,

"is not a facility of which any of us could be proud. It is appalling and worse than my worst nightmares".

People who experience mental illness require a range ofaccommodation options including crisis, respite, and supportedresidential accommodation. Having access to a range ofaccommodation options would enable people who experience mentalillness to live in the community and decrease their need to staylong-term in hospital or acute units. The lack of sufficientcommunity-based services and accommodation is resulting insignificant numbers of people who experience mental illness eitherliving long-term in mental health hospitals or being forced toremain in the family home beyond a time of their choosing, asoutlined in the 2004 report of the Inspector of Mental HealthServices.

"In Ireland, it is clear that the move towards community-based care has not always been successful. There continues to be large numbers of long stay patients in services such as East Galway, South Tipperary, Wexford, Waterford, Carlow / Kilkenny, Longford / Westmeath, Cork and Kerry. Other services have high rates of 24-hour staffed community places in addition to high numbers of hospital beds, suggesting that these services are still very traditional and bed based."

The most up to date figures16 indicate that there are over 1,857people long stay in psychiatric hospitals and units, although adetailed study into the housing needs of those with enduring mentalillness is required to identify the true needs in this area. Weacknowledge that in Budget 2005 the Government announced additionalfunding to create 400 new places in community-based mental healthfacilities, 100 per annum between 2006 and 2009. This developmentis important, however it falls short of what is required. We areconcerned that this allocation will only cater for less than aquarter of those currently unnecessarily in psychiatric hospitalsand units. We therefore call on the Government to provideadditional resources in Budget 2006 to transfer all thoseinappropriately in hospitals to community settings and to providethe resources to support in the community people who experiencemental illness.

DFI Recommends:

  • Government to invest €13.9m17 to provide a range of appropriate supports and training for people who are long-stay in mental hospitals, and a further €13.9m17 in next year''s Budget.
  • Government to invest €50m18 towards the provision of a range of housing options, in addition to the revenue raised through the sale of the State land and property. The housing options should include crisis, respite, and supported residential accommodation.

Adults with Significant Disabilities

This is a cohort of people aged between 18 and 65 who haveeither been born with or acquired a significant disability. Thisgroup includes people with a progressive neurological condition and/ or those who have an acquired brain injury. A significantdisability can be characterised by a set of complex needs that arepersistent or episodic and long-term in nature.

The lack of appropriate accommodation for this group in thecommunity means that many of them end up in inappropriate settings,such as acute hospitals and nursing homes for older people. Asubstantial number of adults with significant disabilities livingin the community are residing with their families, who experienceenormous pressure due to the limited support available to them. TheDepartment of Health and Children have identified approximately2,000 people with significant disabilities nationally who areawaiting appropriate accommodation19.

Budget 2005 represented a significant new departure in that theGovernment acknowledged the specific needs of this group andallocated funding to provide a projected 380 residential places.While this initial allocation of funding is welcome, it isimperative that the Government commit to an increased and sustainedinvestment not only in Budget 2006, but in the ongoing multi-annualfunding package from 2007-2009. This is vital as Budget 2005 onlyaddressed the accommodation needs of less than 20% of thosecurrently identified adults with significant disabilities.

This group also require significant complementary services suchas home support, specialist, respite and day services. In theNational Health Strategy,20 the Government committed itself to a"Programme of Investment" to enhance

"Home support services, respite care, day care places, residential care including additional places for people with chronic conditions, other multi-disciplinary support services and Aids and Appliances".

The Government made a small gesture in Budget 2005 in thisregard by providing additional funding for 1,200,000 extra hoursfor all home support and personal assistance services by 2009. Thisglobal amount of extra hours would be wholly inadequate, even if itwere solely allocated for adults with significant disabilities;however, this funding was allocated to meet needs across alldisability services. Taking into account the significant care needsof this group, some of whom would require 24-hour care, theallocation of funding for 250,000 extra hours per annum is but asmall step in the right direction. While some adults withsignificant disabilities already have care packages in place,significant increased investment will be required over the comingyears to fully address the needs of all adults with significantdisabilities. The costs of providing services to any one of thepeople described here is individual to the person and his / herneeds. Reports from the HSE around the country and servicesproviders estimate that costs vary from €50,000 for basiccommunity supports to €250,000 for a wrap around service for aperson with one to one needs or challenging behaviour.

DFI Recommends:

  • Government to invest €50m to address the residential needs of adults with significant disabilities who are inappropriately accommodated at present.
  • Government to invest €25m in home support, respite care, personal assistance and day care places for adults with significant disabilities and a further €25m in Budget 2007, in recognition of the commitment given to providing the linked services required by this group of people within the multi-annual funding package.

Disabled Person''s Housing Grant (DPG)

In recent decades, successive Governments have failed toadequately address the housing needs of people with disabilities.As a result, many people with disabilities are trapped inunsuitable, inaccessible and potentially dangerous homes.Adaptations are not lifestyle choices but basic necessities.

"The operation of the Disabled Person''s Grant Scheme is at present under review in my Department. On completion of the review, which I envisage being finalised in the next few months, I will be in a position to determine the changes, if any, required to the regulations governing the scheme.21" Minister of State, Noel Ahern, TD April 1st 2003.

Despite numerous commitments that this Review would be finalisedin recent years, it is still not officially completed or published.While we acknowledge that increased funding has been allocated tothe Scheme, we believe that it must be reformed, as it no longermeets the needs of all people with disabilities, is deficient andlacks uniformity. In many cases City / County Councils are usingdifferent criteria for assessment, resulting in qualification forthe Grant being dependent on your Local Authority area rather thanon your need.

There are two key problems with the Scheme. Firstly, LocalAuthorities have to find 33% of this grant from their own budgets,and as a result, many are having difficulties in funding even themost severe cases. This has resulted in long waiting lists in someLocal Authority areas which is delaying urgent adaptations andcausing unnecessary hardship for people with disabilities. In someareas, we are also aware of the introduction of arbitrary meanstesting procedures. We believe that central Government should meetall the costs of the DPG.

Secondly, at present Local Authorities can only contribute up toa maximum of 90% of the cost of the adaptations, up to a maximumamount of €20,320. In many cases they contribute a lot lessthan 90%. In light of the real cost of building work, and the factthat many people with disabilities are living in poverty, thecurrent provisions of the Grant Scheme are totally inadequate. Weare calling on the Government to cover 100% of the costs of theadaptations.

To overcome these problems, DFI calls on the Government tofinalise and publish the Review and to engage with DFI and otherdisability organisations with a view to reforming the DPG along thelines proposed in this Submission, so that it can better meet theneeds of people with disabilities.

DFI Recommends:

  • Government to increase the overall allocation to DPG by €35m to €105m and amend the Grant Scheme so that Local Authorities can recoup the full cost of DPG from Central Exchequer Funds.
  • Government to reform the scheme, so that Local Authorities are given the power to pay the full costs of adaptations undertaken by people with disabilities.

Children as Carers to People with Disabilities

In recent years,some limited progress has been made in acknowledging the invaluablerole and offering increased support to adult carers. However, todate the State has failed to acknowledge or address the phenomenonof children acting as either full or part time carers for parentsand or siblings.

As a result of inadequate funding for community and supportservices, people with disabilities often have no option but to relyon their children for basic care needs. Many children under the ageof 18, some as young as 7, are carrying out, often on a regularbasis, significant caring tasks and are assuming a level ofresponsibility more normally associated with adulthood. These tasksinclude:

  • Children giving general care such as assisting with mobility and dispensing medication
  • Children performing a range of intimate care tasks, such as toileting and bathing
  • Children undertaking a range of domestic tasks and trying to provide emotional support

Children are liable to suffer physically, emotionally, sociallyand educationally as a result of the burden of caring for a parentand / or sibling with a disability. It is clear that the lack offocused action on this issue is in contravention of the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child, which Ireland has signed andratified23. The Convention states that the child has the right torest and to engage in leisure, play and recreational activities andto participate in cultural and artistic activities (Article 31) andthat the State has an obligation to protect children from engagingin work that constitutes a threat to their health, education ordevelopment (Article 32). The State may also be in contravention ofArticle 17 of the Revised European Social Charter24.

At present there are no definitive statistics on the number ofchild carers in Ireland. We do know, from the last Census, that2,996 young people between the ages of 15 and 17 were caring for afamily member25. Using comparable studies in the UK26 and the 2002Census figure, it would indicate that there are up to 10,000 childcarers in Ireland. However, until the Government undertakes aproper analysis and study we will not know the true extent ofchildren as carers.

DFI wants topromote a solution that acknowledges the rights of the child,without undermining the rights of the person with the disability.Therefore, the Government must adopt a holistic approach to thisissue, which addresses the support needs of the child and thecaring needs of the person with a disability.

DFI Recommends:

  • Government should commit to undertake a comprehensive and detailed study and analysis to ascertain the true extent and needs of children as carers in Ireland.
  • Government to invest an additional €20m in services such as personal assistance, care attendants and home help so that people with disabilities are no longer dependent on their children for their basic everyday care. Government to invest a further €20m in Budget 2007.

Capacity Building

Funding for Voluntary Disability Organisations

"I believe that a vibrant civic society, which is so essential to a balanced and, ultimately, happy community, requires us to support engagement and to counter disengagement….we need to consider on a broader basis the policies and actions at official level, which can help or hinder such engagement."27 Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, April 2005.

DFI supports the sentiments expressed by the Taoiseach on thewider role of the community and voluntary sector beyond that assolely providers of services. While voluntary disabilityorganisations continue to be the primary providers of a range ofservices and supports for people with disabilities, they also playa valuable role in promoting equality, active citizenship andparticipation. They do this by working directly with, and for,people with disabilities in building their personal skills andconfidence, so that they can reach their potential and achieve theoptimum standard and quality of life. These organisations operateat a grassroots level, tackling local disability issues with thesupport of individuals and groups in their own area. They are alsoworking to promote and build the capacity of individuals to selfadvocate. DFI welcomes the positive statements made by the Ministerfor Finance in Budget 2005 concerning the role of our sector todate when he stated that in terms of policy, advocacy and theprovision of services

"most of the running had to be made by voluntary organisations".

As outlined inthe White Paper "Supporting Voluntary Activity" themanner in which the State funds the voluntary disability sectordoes not truly recognise their role beyond that of serviceproviders.

"The ''package'' of funding supports under particular schemes is often incomplete. While funding for the primary service which the funder wants to support and a voluntary organisation wants to provide can be available, other funding necessary to the effectiveness of the organisation might not be available. For example, to be effective, and to deliver value for money for the funder and a good service or the customer / client, Community and Voluntary organisations need to undertake staff training, management training and development, service evaluation and organisational reviews. These require resources".

As stated many organisations are funded solely for the provisionof services, and survive from year to year on service contracts.This approach does not create the necessary environment fororganisations to continuously develop themselves so that they inturn can work with service users to build their own capacity toself advocate. In short, organisations must be in a secure positionthemselves to work with and advocate on behalf of the people theyrepresent. This also forces organisations to divert adisproportionate amount of time, energy, personnel and resourcesaway from the main tasks of service and support provision towardsfundraising. This is in spite of the unprecedented resourcespromised to disability services arising from Budget 2005. The Stateneeds to ensure the provision of core funding for the voluntarydisability sector so that it can concentrate on its primary publicservice work. In other areas, such as the voluntary housing sectorthe State already provides core organisational funding throughdistinct budget lines. DFI calls on Government to provide similarfunding lines for the voluntary disability sector. This must beallocated as a priority if the voluntary disability sector is to bein a strong position to work at optimal level with the State in theimplementation of the National Disability Strategy, the provisionsof the Disability Act 2005 and the Departmental Sectoral Plans.

DFI Recommends:

  • Government to provide core funding of €5m within a distinct budget line to secure the future of voluntary disability organisations and grant them the opportunity to build the capacity of the voluntary disability sector.
  • Government to provide a further additional investment of €5m in Budget 2007 and continue this line of investment in subsequent Budgets to support the capacity building of the sector.

3. Conclusion

Budget 2005 provided a good foundation, but it must be built onwith a sustained investment in services and supports for peoplewith disabilities. Politics is about making choices. We trust andexpect the Government will continue to make the choice of increasedinvestment in services and supports for people with disabilities asdetailed in this Submission. This is not only in the interests ofpeople with disabilities, their families, carers and communities,it is in the interests of the country as a whole to maximise thepotential of all its citizens and ensure that no one is leftbehind.

We note that both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have inrecent months recognised that achieving the full inclusion ofpeople with disabilities remains a work in progress and mustcontinue to be a priority for Government attention and resources.We look forward to those sentiments being translated into realityon Budget day.

"The Government recognises, however, that this progress is set against a background of historical deficits in the quality and level of service provision. Far too many people with disabilities remain excluded from full participation in society while many gaps remain in the availability of quality care."

Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD, June2005.

"A major priority for all of us is the issue of disability."

Tánaiste Mary Harney TD, July 2005.

The National Disability Strategy (NDS) was launched last yearamid much acclaim and debate. We have witnessed the passage of theDisability Act and the beginning of dialogue on the DepartmentalSectoral Plans. If given the necessary resources all of thesedevelopments have the potential to make a big difference in thelives of people with disabilities. This will only happen if theyare resourced so that they are fully implemented. If the NationalDisability Strategy is to be a living testament of thisGovernment''s commitment to people with disabilities they needto prioritise funding for the supports and services that peoplewith disabilities require on an ongoing basis.

In Budget 2006, we propose that the Government adopt a threepronged approach by:

  • Increasingincome supports for people with disabilities to address the highlevels of poverty and social exclusion.
  • Continuing to invest in an infrastructure of care so thatpeople with disabilities have the support services they requirewhen they need them.
  • Providing additional resources to build the capacity of thevoluntary disability sector.

We believe that funding the National Disability Strategy woulddemonstrate the Government''s continued commitment toproviding the means by which people with disabilities can live lifewith dignity, can participate and contribute as citizens and aresupported to reach their full potential now and into thefuture.

DFI - National Council andAssociate Membership 2005

  • Action for Mobility
  • AHEAD
  • Alzheimer Society of Ireland
  • Anne Sullivan Centre*
  • APT
  • Arklow Disability Action Group*
  • Arthritis Ireland
  • ASPIRE
  • Asthma Society of Ireland
  • AWARE
  • BIH Housing Association
  • Bodywhys*
  • Brainwave
  • BRBR
  • Caring and Sharing Association
  • Center for Independent Living
  • Central Remedial Clinic
  • Centre for Independent Living Blanchardstown*
  • Centre for Independent Living Carlow*
  • Centre for Independent Living Dublin 7*
  • Centre for Independent Living Galway*
  • Centre for Independent Living Mayo
  • Centre for Independent Living Offaly*
  • Centre for Independent Living Sligo*
  • Centre for Independent Living Tipperary
  • Centre for Independent Living Waterford*
  • Centre for Independent Living Wexford*
  • Cheeverstown House
  • Cheshire Ireland*
  • Children in Hospital Ireland*
  • COPE Foundation
  • Co. Roscommon Support Group of People with Disabilities
  • Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland
  • DEBRA Ireland
  • Diabetes Federation of Ireland Southern Regional Office*
  • Disabled Drivers Association
  • Disabled People of Clare
  • Doorway to Life
  • Down Syndrome Ireland
  • Dyslexia Association of Ireland
  • Dyspraxia Association of Ireland*
  • Enable Ireland
  • FFé
  • Fibromyalgia Support Group (Midlands)*
  • Fighting Blindness
  • Focus Ireland
  • Freidreich''s Ataxia Society of Ireland
  • Galway County Association for Mentally Handicapped Children*
  • Genetic Genetic &
  • HAIL Housing
  • Headway Ireland
  • Heart Children Ireland*
  • Huntington''s Disease Association of Ireland
  • Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
  • Irish Deaf Society
  • Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
  • Irish Haemophilia Society
  • Irish Kidney Association
  • Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association
  • Irish Raynaud''s Irish Raynaud''s &
  • Irish Society for Autism
  • Irish Wheelchair Association
  • Jack and Jill ChildrenJack and Jill Children''
  • KARE
  • Leitrim Association of People with Disabilities
  • Lucan Disability Action Group*
  • Migraine Association of Ireland*
  • Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland
  • Muscular Dystrophy Ireland
  • National Association for Deaf People
  • National Council for the Blind of Ireland
  • National Federation of Arch Clubs
  • Neurofibromatosis Association of Ireland
  • Noinin Support for Autism*
  • North West MS Therapy Centre
  • Out and About Association*
  • Parkinsons Association of Ireland
  • Peacehaven Trust*
  • Peter Bradley Foundation*
  • Post Polio Support Group
  • Reach Ireland
  • Rehab Group
  • Royal Hospital Donnybrook
  • Schizophrenia Ireland
  • Shannon Community Workshops
  • Sophia Housing Association
  • Special Olympics Ireland
  • Spinal Injuries Ireland
  • St. CatherineSt. Catherine''
  • St. Gabriel''s School and Centre
  • St. Mary''s Hospital St. Mary''s Hospital &
  • St. Michael''s House
  • Vantastic
  • Vergemount Housing Fellowship
  • Walkinstown Association
  • West Limerick Community Workshop
  • Western Care Association

* Associate Members.

Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) is the national supportorganisation and advocate for voluntary disability organisations inIreland who provide services to people with disabilities anddisabling conditions.

  • Hidden
  • Intellectual
  • Mental Health
  • Physical
  • Sensory
  • Emotional

Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) works to ensure thatIrish society is fully inclusive of people with disabilities anddisabling conditions so that they can exercise fully their civil,social and human rights. In pursuit of this vision:

  • DFI acts as an advocate for the voluntary disabilitysector.
  • Supports organistions to further enable people withdisabilities

DFI represents and supports over 150 voluntary disabilityorganisations and groups of which 72 comprise its National Council,and 25 of which are Associate Members. Allied to this, it workswith and supports over 200 organisations and groups around thecountry that have a significant and growing disability interest,mainly coming from the statutory and voluntary sectors. DFIprovides:

  • Information
  • Training and Support
  • Organisation and Management Development
  • Research and Policy Development
  • Advocacy and Representation
  • Networking

DFI also supports the broader voluntary and disability sectorthrough its representation of the disability strand within theCommunity and Voluntary pillar of the Social Partnership process,as a social partner at the National Economic and Social Forum,Health Board Co-ordinating Committees and other fora at regional,national and European level.

Disability Federation of Ireland

Fumbally Court, Fumbally Lane, Dublin8

Tel: 01-4547978 Fax: 01-4547981

Email: info@disability-federation.ie Web: www.disability-federation.ie