Ahern accused of hypocrisy over Special Olympics

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was yesterday accused of gross hypocrisy by providing millions of euro for the Special Olympics while the Government is failing to meet the basic needs of disabled people.

The accusation came as around 100 parents and representatives of disability groups protested outside Dublin's Mansion House, where Mr Ahern launched the European Year of People with Disabilities.

They were protesting over a Government freeze in funding for the sector, which means waiting lists for basic services will grow substantially.

At yesterday's launch, Mr Ahern said residential and respite services had improved in recent years but acknowledged a great deal more needs to be done in the coming years.

He also announced he was providing an additional 500,000 to go towards projects aimed at improving disabled people's access to employment.

"I believe we are on the right track towards achieving what is ultimately most important the delivery of quality services to people with disabilities," Mr Ahern said.

But Seamus Green of the Irish Autism Alliance said the new funds were paltry and would do nothing to improve disability services.

"As far as I can see there's a belief in Government that there is an acceptable level of misery for parents and disabled people," he said. "The hypocrisy of launching the European Day and hosting the Special Olympics while doing nothing at home is astounding."

Deirdre Carroll, of the National Association of the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland, said the funding shortfall meant waiting lists for services would grow as school-leavers leave the education system.

She said there was no funding for emergency cases, which means some families and elderly parents will be forced to care for their special needs children at home without support.

Official figures show there are still thousands in need of basic services.

Latest statistics show there are 1,700 people in need of a full-time residential service, 861 need day services, 1,014 need respites services and almost 500 people have no services at all.

Junior Health Minister Tim O'Malley, however, defended the Government's record and said it was committed to investing in services for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

He said funding for the area prior to 1997 was in the region of €90m, but additional funding of over 113 had been provided for the development of these services in the intervening years.

Mr O'Malley also said additional funding amounting to almost €330m had been invested in developing services for people with autism and intellectual disabilities.

This has contributed to the provision of around 1,700 residential places, almost 500 respite places and almost 3,000 day places.