A wheelchair user has said he sometimes has to put his life in his hands by going out on the road - because of obstacles on the footpath such as sandwich boards, bins, and parked cars.

Traders in Dublin city centre will have to pay €630 a year to use sandwich boards to promote their business.

The Disability Federation of Ireland wants public services such as housing, education, transport and health to be open and accessible for people with a disability.

New figures show that while there was a rise in the percentage of applications turned down for disability allowance last year, almost 70% of appeals were then upheld.

An increase of 32,000 people going onto disability allowance over the past five years has been described as “very disturbing” by the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI), which also says the high number of applications rejected is “very disheartening”.

Disability campaigners have been posting videos on social media of how hard it is for them to get around.

A county which tops the Blue Flag list is making access to some of its beaches easier, this summer, for people with mobility issues.

Advocacy groups have criticised a new multibillion euro Government plan to help people with disabilities by labelling it a “missed opportunity” that is “short on vision” and fails to address chronic poverty among those affected.

People with disabilities are “second-class citizens” when it comes to public transport, according to one advocacy group which criticised a ruling that it is “reasonable” to expect wheelchair users will give more than 24 hours’ notice if they plan on taking a bus.

Figures show that two-thirds of applications for Disability Allowance that were initially rejected were later granted on appeal.

The majority of people who receive a disability allowance believe mental health is the issue that affects them the most — ahead of any mobility or physical issue.

Increased State investment in assistive technology, much of which costs under €1,000 per person, could transform the lives of people with disabilities.

More needs to be done to ensure those with a disability are not excluded from society, according to support organisations.

More than a third of charities have been adversely affected by recent controversies that have hit the sector, with many claiming donations have fallen as a result.

Problems with unsuitable wheelchairs and maintenance delays are adding to difficulties faced by users in accessing education, work and everyday life, a researcher has said.

A number of polling stations for today’s general election are not wheelchair accessible, voters with mobility issues have been warned.

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

Almost half of all applications for disability allowance last year were turned down, according to new figures.

People with disabilities living in local authority housing and in need of a housing adaptation grant feel they are being discriminated as some local authorities have access officers while others don’t, with funds key to the matter, says Noel Baker.

Hundreds of younger disabled people left languishing in nursing homes and other inappropriate long-term care have been failed by the State, the Disability Federation of Ireland claims.

At least one large local authority is not adhering to the law by providing an access or disability officer, amid calls for greater clarity on the use of the role for people struggling with housing and other issues.

LAST Saturday, the Irish State re-enacted the oration of Padraig Pearse at the graveside of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa. 

Critical care standards at the Áras Attracta disability centre in Mayo were not being met a month after footage emerged showing residents being fore-fed, kicked and slapped, an inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority found.

The Disability Federation of Ireland says it hopes to “progress” talks with the Department of Social Protection on the issue of the high rate of refusal on applications for the disability allowance.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has opened up the possibility of criminal action in response to the Áras Attracta scandal after it emerged that a 12th worker at the home has been suspended over abuse claims.

A health watchdog has been urged to conduct a retrospective review of all complaints sent to it about alleged abuse at care homes after concerns they were not acted on due to a misunderstanding with another public protection body.

Irish people will be “complicit” in the Áras Attracta abuse if they do nothing in response to the revelations, and must decide now “if we are going to be silent or act” on the scandal.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has claimed the HSE’s budget plans for next year mean the "battered and bruised" system is finally being nursed back to health, despite fears it will not address chronic waiting list and emergency department problems.

Family doctors will be able to restore medical cards to patients for up to a year in rare cases if they believe the vital help has been wrongly withdrawn by the HSE.

Cancer patients have criticised the Government’s high-profile medical card system reform plan, warning the changes have failed to change the focus on an applicant’s income, have left people in the dark and effectively allow the Coalition to "put a plaster over a wound that needs urgent surgical attention".

On 31 March of this year the Constitutional Convention recommended to the Government, by an overwhelming majority of 85%, that economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, such as healthcare, housing and social security, be given enhanced protection in the Irish Constitution. 

Six of Ireland’s most vital charities have urged the Government to put restoration of essential social services ahead of any plans to cut taxes in the upcoming budget.

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

The Taoiseach has today signalled that there will be no re-imbursement of money to people who are getting their discretionary medical card returned.

Some charities have seen donations drop by up to 20%, following negative publicity around Rehab and the CRC.

There should be no consideration given to tax cuts until any extra cash is used to restore services for people with disabilities who are losing even the most basic of supports, the Government has been warned.

The HSE paid almost €200,000 for two widely criticised external reports claiming up to €210m could be cut from the medical cards system — 10 times more than was ultimately slashed from the budget.

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.

Vulnerable elderly and disabled people will have to abandon independent living for institutional care due to sweeping benefit changes, groups have warned.

Disability service campaigners have branded the deepening Central Remedial Clinic top-ups scandal as “disgusting” and said the crisis has the potential to “cripple” the charity sector.