Cash-strapped organisations providing care to thousands of people with disabilities are being “coerced” into hiding the true cost of delivering services, the Oireachtas health committee has been told.

Nauzika and Peter Habermayer are a running couple with a difference.

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of any European country for carrying out operations on a condition that is one of the main causes of impaired vision.

Aoife Josh provides practical and emotional support for the visually impaired in Ireland.

The High Court today found in favour of a blind man, Robbie Sinnott, who was seeking to vindicate his right to vote by secret ballot.

Publication of a blueprint to overhaul the delivery of eye care services is almost a year behind schedule at a time when ophthalmology inpatient/day case waiting lists have outstripped all other specialties leading to avoidable sight loss in some patients.

The Government has been asked to “rectify its failure” to provide blind and vision impaired voters with their constitutional right to a secret ballot.

Niamh Delaney, who is visually impaired, found herself among the elite runners at the end of the women’s mini-marathon in Dublin yesterday.

Faith Ryan finds bargain style, ancient wall maps, cute bud vases and more.

A plan to screen for eye disease in people with diabetes has failed to materialise five years after the HSE identified it as a priority.

A Cork student who created a device that allows visually impaired people to ‘see’ obstacles in their path is to showcase his work in Europe.

THE Government has been asked not to impose budget cuts which will further impact on the blind, as it emerged there could be a 20% increase in the number of people suffering from a vision impairment by 2020.

MENTAL health and disability spending will be cut by a maximum of 1.8% in what has been described by health minister of state John Moloney as “special consideration for the two sectors”.

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland has expressed disappointment at the Budget announcement to cut the Blind Pension and Disability Allowance by €8 from €196 to €188.

The Government was accused today of doing nothing to tackle incidences of blindness despite predictions that cases will soar 170% over the next 25 years.

FOLLOWING an article on this topic by your health correspondent “HSE to blame for loss of sight” (March 26), I would like to register the concern of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) at the HSE’s low prioritisation of diabetic retinopathy screening.

A new study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells in combating the loss of vision in diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

A play at the Abbey Theatre is to be subtitled for the first time for deaf members of the audience, it emerged today.

ADRIAN DUNNE had lived with a debilitating eyesight inherited condition since birth but was living a normal and untroubled life, according to a support group for blind people.

COUNCIL officials who switched off the audible warnings on pedestrian crossings to “safeguard” sighted people have settled a case taken by a blind user left stranded at the side of the road.

RTÉ has agreed to talks with disability groups over the controversial decision to scrap the only radio programme dedicated to issues around blindness.

CAMPAIGNERS battling to stop RTÉ dropping its only programme devoted to the blind have set up an online petition to try to persuade the national broadcaster to change its mind.

RYANAIR said that following consultation with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland it will change its policy on the carriage of vision impaired passengers.

Budget airline Ryanair is to change its policy on carrying sight-impaired passengers following criticism of its decision to eject blind travellers from a flight.

Over €310,000 was raised for Irish charities from the special You’re a Star talent competition held earlier this year, it was confirmed today.

Labels on medicines will soon have to be provided in Braille under a EU directive, it emerged today.

PUPILS at St Mary’s School for the Visually Impaired have an uncertain future when their school closes for the summer today.

I WANT to clear up any misunderstanding which may have arisen from a press conference held last week

Web sites are being adapted for visually impared people in Ireland. A leading supermarket has reformed its web site for the visually impaired.