Disability groups plead for emergency funding to avert crisis for members

By Caroline O'Doherty

They asked for €35m to make up for shortfalls in this year's funding for people with intellectual disabilities and safeguard residential, respite and educational places.

Less than a fortnight to the start of the Special Olympics, they warned Taoiseach Bertie Ahern he would be a hypocrite if he tried to take a share of the international limelight at the event while failing to provide basic services at home.

But they got little comfort from Mr Ahern. He told the Dáil as they protested outside they had got unprecedented levels of funding in recent years and that "this is a difficult year".

Mr Ahern came under fire from opposition leaders who called on him to use the 165m in the dormant accounts fund to reverse cutbacks in the sector.

Fine Gael's Enda Kenny said the situation was "an appalling disgrace", while Labour's Pat Rabbitte questioned how the Taoiseach would reconcile the reality of service provision with the image he would present to the world at the Special Olympics.

Mr Rabbitte asked how Mr Ahern would face guests like Nelson Mandela when 30 of Ireland's athletes were among those getting letters telling them their support services were being withdrawn.

Speakers at yesterday's protest, organised by intellectual disability group NAMHI, said they felt angry and betrayed by the Government's treatment of their loved ones.

Down Syndrome Ireland chief executive Paul Daly said the State was spending up to 100m a year to keep Down Syndrome people in residential care when just 20m would provide supports to allow them live at home.

Parents' representative Ger South, 71, said: "We just will not be able to control the anger and frustration that is out there. The day will come when people will say enough is enough."

A letter from NAMHI outlining five key demands was handed in to the Dáil for Mr Ahern.

Along with emergency funding for this year, the group sought ring-fencing for funding in future budgets, the elimination of waiting lists for services within three years and an end to delays on the publication of a Disability Bill to enshrine entitlements in law.