Disability groups to stage protest

GROUPS representing the mentally handicapped are to stage a protest outside Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's launch of the European Year of the Disabled tomorrow over cutbacks in services.

They say a freeze in funding for new residential places means school-leavers will have to be cared for by their families, many of whom are too old or unable to cope.

The protest will be highly embarrassing for the Government which has been keen to highlight its funding of the Special Olympics later this year.