Vulnerable people left fall through the cracks

A quarter of the country’s disabled population lives in poverty, while 42% of applications for disability allowance made in 2018 were rejected. It’s unacceptable, writes Joan O’Donnell.

More than 140,000 people in Ireland now live on a disability allowance, equivalent to the entire population of Wicklow. These numbers are rising year on year, even though it is extremely tough to qualify and it almost guarantees a life of poverty.