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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Despite this, there are still aspects of current disability legislation in Ireland that is outdated, according to the Social Democrats, which says legislation needs to be updated to reflect current values for people with disabilities.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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Sure we only love a bit of dishonesty and corruption. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Considering that my jeep occasionally spews out tons of smoke and failed the NCT, I have trust that emissions are the most important item thing to Irish lawmakers.
No, wait – it turns out it failed because the font was the wrong sans serif, the smoke is grand! Now just have to decide to get new licence plates or put €20 in ash tray.
Apparently in the US VW are going to cough up $500-$750 per customer as compensation for their deception…
Very few people rock up to a dealership and drive out in a new car, they order months in advance, so expect to see a fall of in a few months, particularly 161 regs
I thought that would be logical enough to realise for a journalist!
When you have to force out a new story every 20 minutes standards inevitably drop.
I very much doubt sales will fall. They are a great car generally.
I’d be more inclined to buy a vw now seeing the ingenuity they used to trick the tests
Irish people love German cars. every second car i see nowadays in an Audi, BMW, Merc or VW
I saw you standing out by the M50 there his morning, Luke, Fair play man.
Overpriced, overrated and soulless cars.
Ah but if ya have a tdi, she goes like clappers…
@beachmaster is that Toyota your talking about the home appliance manufacturer,
Toyota…as Jeremy Clarkson once said …”as exciting as a hoover”…
At least they are not hair dryers!
Look, the level of emissions from a car is not going to affect my purchasing decision. Amazing how people over-estimate their own impact on the planet. The fact is China is opening enough coal powered power plants every 18 months to replace all the energy produced by the UK and Ireland in a single year. How does THAT impact the environment. I couldnt care less about this issue, UNLESS they also lied about the performance of the car. But there’s no evidence of that.
Best car in the class and will hold its value.
Indeed, I would go as far as saying they are overpriced. ’11′ 12 and ’13 reg passats are a lot more expensive than a similar spec Mondeo with similar milage. I say that as an ex passat owner.
Nothing we love more than bog standard golfs
I got sick of being asked why I didn’t get a golf when I got a new car last year
There’s no official strategy in place but you can really get a good deal from VW at the moment. They will do most anything to keep their market place, even sell out at little to no profit
If people are going to buy cars with the wrong emission levels. Then they should pay the appropriate car tax level for their new higher level.
It’s nothing to do with co2 levels, they determine the amount of motor tax
The amount of motor tax you pay for a vehicle registered before July 2008 is proportionate to the size of your vehicle’s engine – in other words, the more powerful your vehicle, the higher the cost of your motor tax. For new cars registered since July 2008, motor tax charges are determined on the basis of CO2 emission bands with lower emissions resulting in lower charges.
I always liked vw, why they felt they had to do this Wel never know, has me thinking now, ok I can live with them lying about emissions but what if they’re also lying about there safety results”
Well, there is no software that can change the structural integrity of a car when it’s test driven into a wall at 40 mph!
I’m surprised that toyota didn’t make an appearance…
I’ve never before heard so many ads and offers on VWs as I’ve heard in the past few weeks.
It probably helps when VW are offering car loans at just 1.9%
My new Skoda came with 0% finance. What’s not to like?
Not available on the new superb that’s what’s not to like :(
I wonder how many are pre-registrations??? I have heard they have stock piles of registered 151/152 cars up there.
Might be s good time to buy Volkswagen shares
Looks like Americans are receiving a $1000 in compensation
Yay €900!!!
Pre reg… Pre reg…. Pre reg
Yea yea yea
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