Budget 2025: DFI hugely concerned over community supports for disabled people

Dear

I am the CEO of Disability Federation of Ireland, DFI, an umbrella organisation representing over 120 member organisations providing services and supports to disabled children and adults. With just one week until National Budget 2025, I am writing to express deep concern regarding the sustainability of disability community services and supports, who play a critical role in providing essential services. Upwards of 70% of disability services are provided by the community and voluntary sector. Without appropriate, sustained resources and support, organisations will be unable to continue to support disabled people.
 

People are experiencing high levels of unmet need, long waiting lists, paused and discontinued services. This is continuing to place unacceptably high levels of pressure on individuals, their families and the community and voluntary services that strive to provide people with the support they so badly need.
  

Organisations are working hard to be agile and flexible to fill gaps, and to support people when they need it most. However, with continuous rising costs of delivering services, increased resources required for governance, and continuing pay parity issues for Section 39 funded organisations, their focus now is just to keep the lights on.
  

The reality for too many children with disabilities is they are faced with huge challenges accessing school places and appropriate supports. Families are turning to costly private organisations for assessments to identify their child’s needs, with little follow-up or early intervention. For adults with disabilities, we are in a cycle of waiting until someone is in crisis before they receive emergency supports. We know that this is hugely traumatic for the person. We can, and must do better.
 

If disability services and supports receive underinvestment, this cycle will continue. We must move to a system where outcomes for individuals are a primary driver in funding that benefits the public good and meets our objectives under the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
 

We have a well thought out Government plan with the Disability Action Plan for Disabilities Services (published by DCEDIY late last year) which looks at demographic change and unmet need. The plan clearly articulates the investment required to have an acceptable level of community supports for disabled people. This must be addressed in Budget 2025. If not, we are continuing to place an unacceptable burden on individuals and their families. As one of the wealthiest countries in Europe it will continue to be our national shame.
 

I urge you, in your role as a public representative, to do all you can to ensure that Budget 2025 is one that does not forget disabled people; perpetuated by underinvestment in disability community supports fundamental for people to live well in the community. We can and should strive to be a country that creates and supports a system of health and social services that enhances people's lives, and is not one that is primarily dictated to by economic drivers and a system of crisis management.
 

Yours sincerely,

Elaine Teague
Chief Executive Officer

Disability Federation of Ireland