Disability groups frustrated by planned bill

Organisations working with the disabled have accused the Government of letting them down in relation to the new Disability Bill.

The legislation is expected to be rushed through the Dáil before the end of current term despite a number of concerns being raised by various organisations.

Disability groups are particularly concerned that the bill does not set out legally enforceable rights for people with disabilities.

The Government is resisting a rights-based approach as it believed this could lead to a raft of court cases from disabled people demanding access to services.

Mary Keogh from the Forum of People with Disabilities said the Government was refusing to back down.

"Our role of influencing it is over - that has been stated by the minister, so once the bill is enacted, we'll be asking the opposition parties in their upcoming manifestos for the next general election that an immediate review of this legislation would be an immediate priority for them," she said.