2009 Pre Budget Submission

Disability Federation Ireland (DFI) is the national support organisation and advocate for voluntary disability organisations in Ireland that provide services to people with a disability and/or disabling conditions.

Almost 10% of the population in Ireland are reported to have a disability (1). Despite strong economic growth over the last decade, people with disabilities continue to experience an unacceptable level of social exclusion and disadvantage. Twice as many disabled people are in consistent poverty compared to those without such a condition(2).

(1) There are 394,000 people or 9.3% reported to have a long-standing illness or disability in Census 2006

(2) DSFA (2008) 'Statement of Strategy 2008' Government Publications

It is increasingly evident that disability services are facing a shortfall in funding. There is grave concern that money allocated to disability through the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013 is not adequate to deliver the National Disability Strategy (NDS) particularly in light of the modest increases in funding in the later part of the NDP. While the Department of Finance calculated the annual percentage change of 6.57% in 2008 for the NDP, this will decrease to 2% per annum from 2010.

In addition, the lack of investment for disability services in Budget 2008, and the re-allocation of monies within the HSE, has led to growing concerns that this Government will be unable to deliver their commitments under the NDS.

DFI has identified four key priorities to be progressed in Budget 2009.