The likelihood is one in three of the electorate will not cast their vote but what keeps people from the ballot box and how do we encourage repeat abstainers? asks Caroline O’Doherty

Charities are demanding that the Government should focus more on spending money on cash-strapped public services rather than tax cuts.

Disability campaigners have expressed concern at the “culture of refusal” in the Department of Social Protection, citing the high rate of applications for disability allowance that are turned down.

There has been angry reaction to the Government's decision to cut mobility payments to people with disabilities.

The government is to axe the Mobility Allowance which is paid to people with disabilities to help them meet their transport needs.

More than half of all applicants for the disability allowance were not granted the payment last year, while figures show 340 people had the payment withdrawn after a medical check.

A PERSONAL health crisis has been revealed in Ireland after it emerged that one in three families is affected by diabetes — a condition that can lead to blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation and even death.

IT’S true what they say: fat children become fat adults.

DAIRYGOLD has followed up on its gold medal win for cheddar at the world cheese championship in the United States last May by winning five further awards — three golds, one silver and a bronze, at last week’s Nantwich International Show in Britain.

AMERICA’S Defence Department is unable to account for about 95% of $9 billion (€6.9bn) supposedly spent on rebuilding the war-shattered country.

IT is a sad day for people with disabilities in Ireland.

INITIAL results from the country’s first ever National Disability Study are “exceedingly valuable” in planning for future needs and the first step to integrating services, according to the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI).

Some €83m earmarked for disability and mental health services has been held back over the past two years, campaigners claimed today.

DISABILITY groups have said it is “totally unacceptable” that the Health Service Executive cannot provide adequate child psychiatric services because it is spending most of the budget on its statutory obligation to assess all children under the age of five for potential problems.

PEOPLE with diabetes are ending up in hospital casualty units around the country because of a chronic shortage of specialist services that could keep them well, the Diabetes Federation of Ireland (DFI) has claimed.

FINE GAEL committed themselves yesterday to creating a position of Minister for Disability if they enter Government.

FOR the umpteenth time, the plight of disabled people has been put squarely on the political agenda following yesterday’s call by the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) for the parties to pin their colours to the mast where this vexed issue is concerned.

HUNDREDS of people have been told to see their GP urgently after a routine public health screening event for diabetes revealed shocking results.

THE Disability Federation of Ireland has demanded €500 million from the Government in the next Budget.

IRELAND spends hundreds of millions of euro annually treating preventable complications in diabetes patients, but has no national strategy to tackle the growing health issue.

ONE-THOUSAND extra disability services staff are to be recruited next year under a package of improvements that also includes increases in residential, respite and daycare places.

HUNDREDS of disabled youngsters are being kept in hospitals because of the Government’s failure to provide accommodation for them, a seminar heard yesterday.

The disabled are facing a serious housing crisis according to the Disability Federation of Ireland.

DISABILITY campaigners yesterday threw down a post-Special Olympics challenge to the Government to get off the starting block in safeguarding services and supports for the 120,000 citizens with disabilities.

THE last budget has utterly failed to tackle the poverty, inequality or lack of basic services experienced by people with disabilities, the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) has said.

THE Government cannot use the economic downturn as an excuse to backtrack on assistance promised to the disabled in next month’s budget, a lobby group declared yesterday.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been accused this morning of reneging on pre-election promises by the Disabled Federation.