Give disabled people bigger role in society, urges group

PEOPLE with disabilities must be given a greater role in society, Enable Ireland has urged.

Chief executive Fionnuala O’Donovan said the organisation was committed to working for an inclusive society.

“There have been some strides for people with disabilities to advance to further education, take up employment and participate in society as a whole but we have a long way to go to strive to make social inclusion a reality for people with disabilities,” she said.

Enable Ireland’s annual report, launched yesterday, shows the organisation provided services to more than 3,000 children and adults at their 14 regional centres. Demand for its services continues to grow.

Over the past year, €2.4 million was raised to fund new services. Between 2006 and 2008 the organisation is to spend over €100m in State funding on providing services.

Throughout 2005, the organisation, with an annual operating budget of €37m, ran a variety of initiatives in local communities.

In particular, a disability awareness training programme developed last year for transition year students will in future be accessible to employers, youth clubs, college graduates and primary schools.

Plans for upgrading facilities in Kildare, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Wicklow are at an advanced stage. A new community-based training facility is planned for the Clare region.