‘Enda broke his promise to me’

Outspoken disability campaigner Joanne O’Riordan has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of again backtracking on “his personal promise to me” that disability funding would not be cut under his rule.

Joanne, who was born with no limbs, addressed a UN technology conference in New York last year and won a string of awards for her campaigning. She said she was disgusted that “Enda Kenny looked me in the eye before the general election and promised me one thing and then once again, did another”.

Meanwhile, Kathleen Lynch, the minister with responsibility for disability issues, said she could not guarantee that those currently in receipt of the mobility allowance will be entitled to the same transport provisions when their payment stops in four months’ time.