Measures recognise neglect of services
The special €900 million fund, made up of €600m in current spending and €300m in bricks and mortar, to cover extra high priority services from 2006-2009, represents a substantial investment.
But another measure of its significance is that it is a long-awaited recognition of the gaps in services that have existed since the Government took power and the sizeable catch-up task ahead.
Mr Cowen acknowledged the neglect the sector had suffered, noting: “The disability programme was for many years at the end of the queue for resources.”
The structure of the special package as a four-year deal is also recognition of the long-time plea by disability campaigners to be allowed plan ahead rather than wait anxiously from budget to budget to see if it was possible to continue a service for the next year.
Campaigners have also taken heart from Mr Cowen’s remark that the Government should work in conjunction with the disability sector to identify and address needs.
“We also need to build on the existing partnership between the statutory health service structure, the voluntary service providers and people with a disability and the voluntary organisations representing them,” he said.
In highlighting the role of several departments, it is felt Mr Cowen has laid down a marker to his Cabinet colleagues that disability is an issue to be addressed across all State services, not just health.
If there is one remark that causes concern, however, it is Mr Cowen’s statement that, in addition to the special funding package, he wanted to make it clear that “disability services will also continue to be dealt with as a normal part of the annual estimates process and will receive extra funding going forward as overall budgetary circumstances permit”.
Disability Federation chief executive John Dolan said: “My understanding is that the €900m is extra, on top of anything extra that might come in future budgets.”
However, he added: “I hope that it won’t become an excuse for limiting future allocations.”
Quotes:
“While we are certainly very pleased that for the first time people with disabilities are on the political agenda, and we welcome the concept of multi-annual funding, the package for 2005 which caters for 800 places (day care, respite, residential) is against a background of 1,800 on a waiting list for residential care and 1,900 for respite. It is essential that those most in need are prioritised and the money linked to people on waiting lists.”
“The broad thrust of the Budget indicates Government recognition that there has been a lot of catch-up to do to bring people with disabilities onto the national policy agenda for the first time. The next step will be to measure that the extra resources are properly targeted to ensure they make a real impact on the daily lives of the 400,000 with disabilities in Ireland.”
“The commitment to invest in disability and mental health services over a three-year period is a positive and welcome move. However, a major injection of resources is still required to provide the type of comprehensive and accessible mental health services which should be available in a country as wealthy as Ireland. The priority must be to halt and reverse the annual decline in the share of health spending being devoted to mental health.”
“This is an historic day for people with disabilities in Ireland, their carers, their families and all those engaged in the provision of services to the sector. The allocation of an addition €900 million in capital and revenue finance over a four-year period from 2006 to 2009 is hugely significant.”
“The Government is making much of its comprehensive package of measures for people with disabilities, but one of the most fundamental needs has not been addressed. Not one cent of additional money has been allocated to the Department of the Environment to be spent on housing adaptations for people with disabilities.”
“As a service provider employing 1,500 people and serving 10,000 people with disabilities in Ireland, Mr Cowen’s measures represent a major breakthrough.”
“When Brian Cowen was Minister for Health, he put a three-year (disability) plan in place. That plan was abandoned the moment he left the Department. There is no guarantee that his current proposals will survive any change in the Department of Finance.
“That is why any Disability Strategy, if it is to be meaningful, must be underpinned by decent legislation. The Disability Bill, as everyone recognises, is dreadful and must be changed if trust is to be restored.”
Compiled by Claire O’Sullivan.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
