What good are rights without a service?
However, the real problem is political with numerous broken promises of improved services followed by watered down legislation.
Just after the Special Olympics, the Government displayed sickening hypocrisy by cutting back on carers’ allowance and disability benefit.
There are two distinct and critical issues affecting services for the marginalised - the availability of services and the ability to pay through a means test. These two issues should not be confused.
There’s no point in discussing rights-based legislation when the services aren’t there in the first place. Money isn’t going to achieve much when the problem presents itself elsewhere in the shape of personnel shortfalls. The Government seem to believe the cart should come before the horse.
We urgently need to establish exact figures to determine the number of carers needed to cope with the current crisis - otherwise legislation is pointless.
Maurice Fitzgerald
Shanbally
Ringaskiddy
Co Cork
