Dr. Amie Lajoie:

There were many good questions but I will start with the UNCRPD. Unfortunately, even if we look at the ratification process of the UNCRPD, Ireland was the last EU member state to do that ratification, which says a lot. It took until 2018 for it to be done when it was originally proposed in 2006. I hope it has at least given those who work on the ground with people in communities a different and specific language of engagement in how to categorise what is going on in terms of a rights-based approach, which is very useful.

Even when we were having the preliminary discussions for our statement to the committee we heard some of that. There was acknowledgement and recognition that there is now this international framework. There is now a national framework because there was a strategy - I think it was last year - that has a specific provision in it focused on mobility and transport. It is hopefully going to be able to allow those of us working in this space to better articulate what is going on and to better push for the kind of normative, legislative and policy change needed to allocate further resources in this area and better support this community.

I might comment on the Indecon report because it was something we highlighted and looked at. While our statement centred the personal experiences and testimonies of the advisers and the CIS that engaged with us, it very much echoed what was found in this report, especially about the cost of transport and where persons with disabilities are not getting State support. That was something interesting that was in the Indecon report. For example, most are getting State support for something like public transport costs, if you are somebody who lives in an area where you have access to public transport. Of those who took the Indecon survey, 51% said that is where State help was given to them but of course that is in and of itself exclusionary of everyone else not in an area where they can access public transport. However, the extra costs incurred by the participants in that survey were only 15%. That is a very small amount versus the 39% extra cost for private transport whereas the only State help given for private transport costs was 16%. There are, therefore, significant gaps. That further augments what we found in our preparations for this and what the money advisers are seeing with respect to the additional costs and burdens placed on persons with disabilities. Mr. O'Brien mentioned in particular the cost of taxis and how if you are on disability allowance you can get that. A lot of the time it is medical appointments. That is what came up over and over again. It is multiple medical appointments and some of them are very time-sensitive. If you have chronic pain and live somewhere where you cannot access public transport, a taxi is your mode of transport. You can collect a receipt and get that reimbursed in time but in that time period people might make choices to cover that cost. For example, one adviser said people might opt to go without food or cut back on their food budget in order to cover that taxi cost to their medical appointment. It is quite stark that people are making those decisions. Mr. O'Brien might want to tackle the financial independence piece.