€35m demanded for services for disabled people

LABOUR demanded €35 million for services for the disabled this year — half the cost of the new Government jet.

A new rights-based Disability Bill must also be drafted, said Labour’s Equality and Law Reform spokeswoman Breda Moynihan Cronin.

She also called for a referendum to be held enshrining the rights of people with disabilities in the Constitution. This would give the disabled redress to the courts, if they feel their rights are infringed.

“The Government’s handling of the disability legislation has been nothing short of shambolic; their bill was a whitewash and a slap in the face for people with disabilities,” she said.

The Government withdrew this bill and they know that what is required is a right based legislation, but they continue to stall on the Bill, the Kerry South deputy said.

This is the European Year of People with Disabilities and Bertie Ahern knows that very well.

“He walked sneeringly past a demonstration of people with disabilities on his way to launch the year some months ago because it wasn’t sexy enough, it was better inside,” Deputy Moynihan Cronin said.