Newsletter August 2010

We saw the disability sector take action on the 7th of July to protest against further funding cutbacks to services to people with disabilities by the HSE. Right now we must continue our efforts to make the Government and the wider public aware of the damage that is being done and which threatens the quality of life of people with disabilities, their families and communities.

Budget 2010 hit the disability sector hard on all fronts, cutting both, disability specific services, funding, and mainstream programmes used by people with disabilities. Given the €3 billion reduction in the budget deficit required in 2011, unless decision-makers disability proof decisions, the future looks much harsher for people with disabilities.

Voluntary disability organisations need to energetically warn their local elected representatives about the true situation, and persuade them of the need for disability-proofing all budgetary measures and planning for the implementation of the National Disability Strategy in this current difficult environment.
DFI will continue to work hard to protect what has been gained through the National Disability Strategy, and to ensure the basis is there for real progress as soon as conditions improve. Our interventions will be greatly strengthened if individual organisations engage wherever they have the opportunity. But to maximise our effectiveness, DFI needs evidence from members about their experience during this year. A questionnaire will be sent out shortly and I urge every member to participate.

We are being told that the recession is over. That is the same as being told the flooding has stopped. Serious damage has been done and continues to be done, with further cuts not only in next year”s budget but also beyond that. The Government has not even put its plan in place to protect the NDS.

The outlook for people with disabilities is not good at present. Coming into the Autumn we need to collectively get the stark facts across to our politicians and the public in the run up to the Budget.

John Dolan
Chief Executive Officer