Ring-fence funding for disabilities, agencies urge

A COALITION of agencies supporting people with disabilities have urged the Government to ring-fence funding for the area in the upcoming budget.

Slamming the new Programme for Government as the work of a first year economics student, the groups – Inclusion Ireland, the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, Irish Autism Action, Down Syndrome Ireland and the National Parents and Siblings Alliance – also claimed money could be saved through earlier intervention which would allow children a better chance at a normal life.

Yesterday’s forum, attended by parents of disabled children from around the country, heard from Inclusion Ireland chief executive Deirdre Carroll, that the new Programme for Government contains no targets, no outline of resources and no timeframes regarding services for those with disabilities.