ALL Cork local election candidates have been asked to attend a rally this weekend opposing Government cuts to disability sufferers.

NATIONAL disability organisation, People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI), is to be wound up after failure to resolve a row over attempts to force its chief executive to take a €64,000 pay cut.

FUNDING cutbacks targeted at citizens heretofore entitled to the special protection and care of the State are a sad reflection on our Government’s social inclusion policy and they also make a mockery of equality/disability legislation.

ANGERED disability representatives yesterday criticised polling stations after it emerged groups of voters who are wheelchair users were unable to enter voting stations because of limited facilities.

THE disability lobby has criticised the Government for restricting opportunities through delays in rolling out high quality internet access.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) today insisted patient care improved last year even though it admitted failing to spend nearly a fifth of its €555m budget.

Disabled people suffer the most discrimination in Irish society, it emerged today.

Nurses and midwives across Ireland have been banned by their unions from working any overtime, it emerged tonight.

Standards of care for mental health patients are to improve within weeks, it was promised today.

GOVERNMENT plans to get 7,000 people with disabilities working in mainstream employment over the next five years will receive a cautious welcome from many of those sceptical about political promises that fail to materialise.

Plans by Bus Eireann to spend €16m euro on a fleet of luxury coaches with no wheelchair access were today branded incredible.

THE Government's €1.3 billion National Disability Strategy has been labelled a "shambles" by the new head of an international disability organisation.

It amounts to simple justice that the Government accede to the demands of the national organisation representing all people with disabilities that a single authority be established to overcome the intolerable regime to which they are subjected.

THE recent Dáil statement by the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, that the current works at Cork airport do not allow for the provision of air bridges has come as a shock to all of us who have been campaigning for the development of Cork airport.

THE Cork Network of People with Disabilities (PWDI) and members of the Cork Access Group were alarmed to hear that the initial proposal to incorporate air bridges from the new Cork airport terminal to the aircraft was being reviewed.

THERE is still no sign of the infamous disability bill from the Government.

PEOPLE with disabilities yesterday criticised Ryanair’s decision to charge its passengers 73c to cover the cost of providing wheelchairs at four airports.

THE Minister of State with special responsibility for disabilities, Willie O’Dea, is doing his utmost to get Irish families involved in the blame game against one another.

DISABILITY groups last night urged the Government not to renege on its promise to introduce rights-based legislation for the disabled next November.

AS the national representative organisation of People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI) and also as service users, we have had several commitments from this Government, going back to 1997, that they would fully implement the Commission Report on People with Disabilities, entitled A Strategy for Equality.

DISABLED people are suffering indignity and discomfort due to the refusal by some local authorities to allow grant aid for house modifications.

The disabled are calling on the Government to reconsider their decision not to allocate any extra funding for people with disabilities this year.

A group representing people in Ireland with disabilities has warned that any cutback in the social welfare disability payment in the Budget will have disastrous effects.

Waterford Disability Network (PwDI) has carried out a survey into the services provided

A new body representing people with disabilities has said its members should be offered the opportunity to help fill the skills gap in Irish industry.

Nominees to the board of the newly established People With Disabilities in Ireland Limited will meet for the first time today.