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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Despite this, there are still aspects of current disability legislation in Ireland that is outdated, according to the Social Democrats, which says legislation needs to be updated to reflect current values for people with disabilities.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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Just like FF and FG . SF will not acknowledge the immigration problem and side with the natives .Irish people do not have a problem with people coming here to work and contribute to society . Irish people rightly do not want busloads of males been dumped into communities.This is wrong and SF would not acknowledge that in a meaningful way.
If you travel abroad to countries like Poland , you do not see tent cities , you don’t see freeloaders in their cities. Why? Because their government listened to and protected their people .
All SF had to do was acknowledge that perhaps , Irish people are right in their calls for something to be done that actually favours the people of Ireland and not the thousands of freeloaders we have currently milking the system.
Again, immigration wasn’t an issue to anyone other than the skin-triggered because the current govt who gave us your so called “immigration problem” have been comfortably re-elected, with anti-immigration parties getting decimated. Nobody has to pander to the far right now, they lost, FFG won.
@BL Music: sure if that’s the case then why are ff/fg getting seats everywhere
@9QRixo8H: The only party that got decimated is the pro Hamastinian and pro free immigration Shinners.
“Brits out – everyone else in” simply doesn’t wash with their former supporters.
There is no Right wing party in Ireland except by the definition of the Lazy Loony Left Layabouts.
@BL Music: How anyone could get a single thumbs up for such buncombe really is beyond me.
@Thomas Sheridan: SF haven’t done well but they’re the 3rd largest party, how many seats did your far-right anti-immigrant parties get? A whopping zero. Racists have no mandate.
@BL Music: funny how just SF suffered isn’t it, kind of utterly undermines your argument, if your assessment of the importance and impact of the “immigration problem” was correct we’d have had sways of the countless anti immigration candidates elected….. Guess what they bombed
@BL Music: can’t say that that’s racist, allowing people to enter the country without checking they’re backgrounds couldn’t possibly cause a problem. As our spanner himself roderic o gorman says we have a legal and moral obligation to house those entering the country. Obviously to whoever enters the country not what’s currently in it.
Saw this on twitter:
“The only Sinn Fein person having a good day today is probably Jonathan Dowdall in Portlaoise Prison, who’s stuck his house on the market for €800k.”
@honey badger: Also, from Twitter:
Sinn Fein spent €111,000 on Facebook advertising for this campaign. For 11%.
Actual LOL!
She needs to go, the whingeing old bag
@6gRrQtLn: no, leave her there, doing a great job
@Martin Kenny: valid point
@6gRrQtLn: and who is capable of replacing her
@Philip Murphy: Nigel Farage.
@Philip Murphy: no one should replace her, SF should be abolished all together, terrorists shouldn’t be allowed to run for government
She needs to realise politics isn’t conducted on social media.
In a post vote survey 30 percent plus people said they had had a visit from an FF/FG candidate. Only 18 percent had one from SF.
They need a new leader. She’s absolutely ruined them.
You’d have had my vote if Pierce Doherty was the leader.
He talks sense.
@Tom: you mean how he wants affordable housing for everyone, just not in his area?
SFs traditional vote bank has been working class communities that are most impacted by very local issues. When SF started courting Hamas sympathizers and being all fascinated with Palestine and any other trending topics that didn’t resonate with the local communities, they lost those votes.
@Kush OMeara: hari kari by sinn fein. Everyone could see that coming a mile away with the meely mouth re immigration and focus on palestine plus their referendum fcuk up. Mary Lou needs to go straight away and the party need to reorientate back to their core support , apologising on bended knee for betraying everyone.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: hand control back to ‘Belfast’
And she’s blaming the ‘current government’ for SF’s failure at the polls..whilst the ‘current government’ are running away with it; I’m confused..how does that work? The voting public have rejected SF’s programme for their ‘Change’..but I don’t think either ML or PD understand a 2-figure vote..
How is it that nobody can spell Pearse???? I do agree that marylou should go. She single handedly alienated the sf support. Thank you marylou!!!
@BL Music:
“Just like FF and FG . SF will not acknowledge the immigration problem and side with the natives”
FF and FG seem to be doing alright despite your allegation that they don’t “side with the natives”. By your own logic nobody would vote for FF, FG or SF due to the “males being dumped into communities”. Something does not add up as FG and FF have garnered plenty of votes.
Sadly i think Pierce Doherty needs to become leader . Very disappointed really thought people would vote for change . Not the same old boys club . Then again only half country voted these people same ones giving out.
@martin finnegan: The loudest complainers couldn’t be bothered to vote obviously!!
Let’s face it, FF/FG have been buying the locals votes for the last 12 months, money talks,every fiver extra,each lump some payment,each cost of living payment and every little increase & lots of handouts to communities across the country to white wash the crumbling buildings in the local squares.Brings all the locals to the schools to use their vote as a thank you to the government parties.Irish voters are always bought in the run up to elections, this will go on until the GE. It too will work then also as voters are always grateful for the few extra bob.Irish people love their money, whoever gives them more will have their hand shook.As long as donohue and mcgrath keep the handouts coming their almost guaranteed to be in government up to the beginning of the 2030s so get comfy everyone!.
@Wakeupkerrycoco Wakeupkerrycoco: Dream on dear boy!!!! People just saw straight through the sf mullarkey!!
@chris gaffney: Didn’t mention SF in my comment but yes I’d agree that people were not convinced by what SF have to offer anymore. Too slow to react to immigration and seemed to be having notions of grandeur before winning anything major.
My comment was about peoples votes being bought by government.
A poor display
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