Disability directive swept away

WHILE the plan by the Government to merge five agencies, including the National Disability Authority, into one may seems like something decided in the editing and cutting room of the Department of Finance, it is not.

Rather the plan obediently follows the trend in Brussels and anticipates the effect of mergers at European level on national policy and initiatives, especially where they involve EU funding.

In 2006, existing EU funding programmes on gender equality, employment and social exclusion (including disability) were merged to form PROGRESS, a generic employment and social solidarity programme.