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GE2024department for disabilityTHE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS intend to spend €5.5 billion if in government to make major reforms to disability law, including introducing a weekly cost of disability payment of €30.
The commitments are laid out in its disability policy, published today, which also intends to bring Ireland’s current legislation in line with international standards and establish a stand-alone Minister and Department to do so.
Ireland was the last EU member state to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into law which gave specific rights for people with disabilities to be treated equally in all aspects of society.
Despite this, there are still aspects of current disability legislation in Ireland that is outdated, according to the Social Democrats, which says legislation needs to be updated to reflect current values for people with disabilities.
The Disability Federation of Ireland called for a cost of disability payment, the establishment of disability ombudsman and sweeping reforms of the Disability Act 2005 in its general election manifesto, issued to candidates running for office.
Under the current act, the State is obliged to promote equality and social inclusion while also providing for a complaints mechanism in the case of non-provisions of services but the Social Democrats argue there are plenty of gaps in the law.
Today, the party has promised to making more than 120 amendments and alterations to the legislation and, in doing so, has met with the charity’s calls in full.
The Social Democrats have also insisted in creating a right-based approach to this legislation, which would insure that disabled persons’ organisations play a role in the early steps of lawmaking and regulation.
Health cards for people with disabilities may be retained if they go into full-time employment with the party in Government, it says, and the entire cohort have the legal right to homecare under the amendments, two things long-called for by advocacy groups.
The party also pledge to increase the employment rate for people with disabilities – Ireland currently ranks roughly 20% below the EU average.
For carers, people working within the independent, volunteer or community sector – known as Section 39 organisations – will receive funding for competitive pay, equal to that of their counterparts in the public service with the legislative changes the party says.
An increase to the carers’ allowance and the abolition of the means test on the payment is also promised by the Social Democrats – something which has appeared in almost all party manifestos to date.
The establishment of an Ombudsman, which would review current processes and make recommendations to the Minister, would also be established. This would put an end to the need for legal action in cases where people feel that they were discriminated against.
Separate social housing targets will be set for homes with accessibility requirements under the Social Democrats’ plan, which also promises to introduce grants for people needing mobility supports – based on the individuals’ needs.
Taxi travel passes for people in rural areas and a more accessible transport system are also promised. In education, the Social Democrats pledges to make amendments to existing legislation so that integrated classrooms are present, where possible.
These promises come as yesterday, Taoiseach Simon Harris also committed to reforming the Disability Act 2005, if returned to government, so that it is more in line with a UN convention requirements.
He told a press conference yesterday that parents, carers and people with disabilities believe the act to be too rigid and that he was “concerned” about the issue.
The Taoiseach has previously complemented the Social Democrats’ leader Holly Cairns on their plan to establish a dedicated department and minister.
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Holly has also pledged to appoint an ombudsman for Unicorn farts, it’s been fully costed and a budget of 12 billion will be allocated over the term of the government!
@Jonn: styrofoam for brains, that woke party of eejits.
The Monk is right- they do shag all. They’re good at the virtue signalling though!
Vote Independent/Nationalist candidates to keep Ireland Irish. We don’t even have the Infrastructure and services to support our own people, let alone foreigners!!!
@Finian McG: SDs are pro open borders!!!
@Finian McG: their hereby to be known as the STDs cos they’re St***d TDs
@Finian McG: they’re
@Finian McG: The monk is right? Go f… yourself ye clo.wn
@Finian McG:
Holly didn’t specify in her speech if all 17 genders..or is it 27 genders this week, I’m not sure..will be entitled to this new allowance. Did she include those who identify as Leprechauns? Just because they have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow they’re still entitled to full state supports!
@Jonn: Weirdo
@Anthony Curran: Hahaha! ..how does it feel to be haemorrhaging votes to Ind/others, plastic provo?
That’s gotta hurt :)
@Jonn: Lol! I think they’re up around the hundred mark now!
@Finian McG:
I don’t doubt it!
@Anthony Curran: the monk will split the shinner vote, that can only be a good thing :)
@Paul M Doe: nope ex shooters will be all right…
Vote for me and i will spend the apple tax on a six months piss up for the country. Plus free chicken suppers for everyone
@Dan Murphy: with Curry sauce and you have my vote
Improvements are definitely needed in the area however we have ~25% of the population with a disability so this plan would allow them and their families get unmeans tested carers allowance, taxis everywhere etc.
It’s all well and good thinking the best of people however reality means that these measures will be abused as people think “what’s in it for me”. This plan is costing more than the dreaded USC brings in.
Journal comment sections are toilets these days. Just full of angry white men who’ve realised their lives are sh it. What a sad existence.
@Anthony Curran: And here you are
@Anthony Curran: you could always go to New York, shave your head, go on ‘strike’ and scream at the sky with the rest of the girls…
@Anthony Curran: “angry white men” what do you expect ? You are commenting on a predominantly Irish platform. ..
@frank dowling: You’re naive in the extreme if you think the majority of these shills are Irish.
@Anthony Curran: There is a super strong possibility that your a shill
@Anthony Curran: says the shill lol
@Anthony Curran: And your naive if you believe that
@Anthony Curran: old pandas fainted own kids by FFG… ssoo loneli now hohoho
@frank dowling: get life real, degluter from bizi.. On phone only…
@A W: Nî hăo!
Except Brendan.
€5.5 billion on disability legislation????
Is this the legislation version of the Dail bike shed?
People with disabilities are entitled to have the exact same rights as everyone else, but they currently have those and are additionally given numerous extra benefits and even preferential treatment in some instances.
Buildings and work places are adapted for disabled access, funds are provided for the adaptation of houses for people withdisabilities, there are also schemes for the provision of adapted vehicles.
How much more preferential and special treatment are they expected to receive to attain equality?
@Dvsespaña: you see we’re not talking about a different gender in this debate. We’re talking about someone who may have an invisible illness that causes them harm.
Not all disabled people need 24 hour care but almost all need extra help to work in a society that is basically made for people without disability.
@Darren McCormack: If as you say, we are talking about someone that has a disability in the form of “an invisible illness that causes them harm” then they have a quantifiable disability that can and has been diagnosed using well established and defined science and legally based criteria, rather than them just self identifying as “disabled”.
If there is anyone who currently meets those criteria and isn’t receiving the necessary supports, or “extra help to work in a society that is basically made for people without disability” then those issues can be addressed through existing disability services and current legislation. There is definitely no justification whatsoever for spending €5.5 billion on changing current disability legislation.
@Dvsespaña: booo u too
Your time is out, Monkey Harris, you traitor get out.
@Buster Lawless: She lost. The campaign of joy and woke are both dead in the water.
@Buster Lawless: the other fella isn’t much better! The Monk would do a better job than Slimey Simey
At best the social dems will be a junior partner in government, so the only way they can make this policy a pledge is if they make it a condition of going into government. Are they going to refuse to go into government if their senior partner doesn’t back this policy?
@Pat Maher: they in soon… as old urs frends FFG out…
@A W: At no point did I declare any allegiance to any party and for the record I don’t support/vote for any specific party, I vote for who I think will do the best job for Ireland in the next 5 years. So don’t assume to know who my ‘friends’ are and I’ll afford you the same courtesy.
have your say