Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

With regard to Deputy Wallace's question about carers, in last year's budget I prioritised that carers would not receive a reduction in the payments made to them. I am happy that my colleagues in Government supported that approach. I am aware that people who have a disability are dependent on the quality of services they receive. When I met the 35 groups last Friday for four hours of discussion about the forthcoming budget and how the current economic crisis affected them, four or five of the groups were present to specifically represent people with disabilities, including, for the first time, centres for independent living. They made a compelling case about their members, many of whom are wheelchair users but who are active in the workforce and in education. They are anxious that the Government makes more of an effort to encourage employers to give people with a disability a chance.

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