Forgotten people are forgotten again

There are deals and there are deals. In my view life is all about dealing.

I admit to being cynical but I will not accuse the GAA of wheeling and dealing. The three letters of the GAA stood for Gaelic Athletic Association.

Thanks to our Kerryman Sean Kelly our young people were given the opportunity to play whatever games they preferred. We must accept that our better hurling counties also excelled at cricket.

The problem with the GAA/TV deal is that Mandela’s statement on how to judge a democracy is how the people with a disability and the aged are treated. Old age has its own failing ability.

Again for the umpteenth time our democracy has forgotten the people with disability and the aged.

Kerry Disability Network is all that remains of each county network of disability, set up in 1996 by volunteers in each county and supported by government and the HSE.

Kerry Network’s best achievements through research into the needs of people with disability was local, accessible transport for people with disability. Its template is now used by Wales. Secondly, a 70% success rate in training people with disability in Kerry to gain employment.

It was sad that PWDI (People With Disabilities in Ireland) was called a quango and funding stopped by government and the HSE.

Sympathy does not cost effort or money. I joined Kerry PWDI in 1998 having lost my good job after 30 years due to manic depression, or Bipolar Disorder. The loss of my job had a good side to it as I met with Noel O’Neill, Kerry Disability Network and later I was elected to the National Body representing people suffering mental health illness or disability.

Both groups have lost the government funding and HSE funding, again the forgotten people are forgotten.

Ted O’Shea

Muckross

Killarney

Co Kerry