Still no guarantee of rights or resources
The Taoiseach and half the cabinet who attended the launch of the bill promised that the necessary resources would be provided. I would suggest that there should be a practical demonstration of this immediately.
The disabled person’s grant assists old and young with a disability to modify their houses, thereby enabling them to live in dignity and comfort at home. The alternative is institutional care.
There is a shortfall of €4 million for these grants in Co Kildare and a similar situation pertains in other counties. There is a 10-month waiting list for assessment for the grant in Co Kildare, and no new applications are being accepted since last July.
If the Government is sincere about providing resources, I suggest the cabinet immediately provide funds to clear the backlog in Co Kildare and elsewhere and provide for future funding by placing the grant on a statutory basis.
We will wait and see - actions are more important than empty promises.
Cllr Paddy McNamara
499 Clane Road
Sallins
Co Kildare
