Election hopefuls invited to attend protest rally over disability cutbacks
People with Disabilities in Ireland (PWDI) are also calling on the disability sector throughout Cork to come onto the streets and demonstrate.
They want a message sent out to the Government that cuts in benefits and services for people with disabilities will be vehemently opposed.
The Cork wing of PWDI, based in Penrose Quay, has called on all local election candidates to come out in solidarity with people with disabilities who are bearing the brunt of the cuts.
The HSE, it emerged, has already reduced funding to disability organisations in Cork.
According to Cork PWDI, people with disabilities and who require personal assistants are feeling the strain of such a reduction in funding because the budget for independent living services has been reduced.
The hours available to people with disabilities requiring a personal assistant service has also been reduced pro-rata. According to Cork PWDI, this effectively means people with disabilities who choose to live independently are left isolated without a service for longer periods.
“Will someone somewhere stand up to the HSE and tell them that my disability is 24/7 and I live with my disability 365 days in every year,” one service user said.
Another disability activist said: “I am a wheelchair user with very limited mobility. I could in fact opt for round-the-clock medical care in some institution and I am saving the Government money because I choose to live independently and not in the constant care of health professionals.”
The PWDI has organised a protest march and rally in Cork at 2pm on Saturday.
The purpose of the event is to send a message to the Government that people with disabilities cannot and will not tolerate further cuts to the disability budget
The rally takes place outside the Opera House and will march to Grand Parade via Academy Street.
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