Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will start on a positive note. In recent years, a new direction has been brought about by a number of policy developments concerning disability. The most notable of these is the national disability strategy which reflects the social partnership agreement Towards 2016 and various programmes for Government, including the current one of 2011. These developments will impact on the work of voluntary disability organisations and on people with disabilities. We need to grasp the opportunities that are available so that people with disabilities can benefit to the maximum extent from commitments made through the national disability strategy, which will run until 2016.

Unfortunately, however, we must now do so in a very different economic context - one in which the level of funding for priority services for people with disabilities continues to be reduced. There is an escalation of the concept of providing disability services to a greater extent in the mainstream context. In addition, there is a huge dependency on the voluntary sector. The aspirations in Towards 2016 include long-term goals under the national disability strategy. According to the strategy's mission statement

Every person with a disability will have access to an income which is sufficient to sustain an acceptable standard of living. Every person with a disability would, in conformity with their needs and abilities, have access to appropriate care, health, education, employment, training and social services. Every person with a disability would have access to public spaces, buildings, transport, information, advocacy, other public services and appropriate housing. Every person with a disability would be supported to enable them, as far as possible, to lead a full and independent life, to participate in work and in society, and to maximise their potential.

The mission statement also says that "carers would be acknowledged and supported in their caring role". If we are to achieve these desirable ambitions the Government will have to redouble its efforts and commitments with appropriate funding also being put in place to achieve these fundamental aspirations. For instance, many public buildings are not disability-friendly and we have drastically neglected our duties in not complying with the Barcelona agreement in this regard.

Due to a major cut of 56% to Kerry County Council's housing grants recently - which is the highest reduction for any council in the country - terminally ill patients, the elderly and the disabled who are in need of basic facilities such as downstairs bathrooms, walk-in showers, stair-lifts and ramps, are deprived of support for any such basic entitlements. Grant applications have been halted and the council is unable to cater for long-standing applicants who have been approved but, unfortunately, cannot proceed.

I plead with the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and also with her senior Minister, Deputy Hogan, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to ensure that this matter will be addressed, perhaps with contingency money that I understand may be available. I ask the Minister of State to put these matters at the top of her list to be addressed as soon as possible.

I urge the Government to revisit the contentious issue of the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant. This contravenes Irish and international policy on including people with disabilities in society. It also flies in the face of the adjudication on the issue by the Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly. The Government will have to act with haste in tabling a resolution before the summer recess.

A high number of disability allowance applications are refused. Many valid cases are appealed but it can take up to 18 months to obtain an adjudication. Statistics show that on average about one third of the original refusals are eventually successful. This begs the question about the success rate following all the re-evaluations and assessments.

Were it not for these applicants' persistence over such a long time, they would have been deprived of their rightful entitlements. This also poses the question as to the number of worthy cases who do not pursue this lengthy process. Were they to do so, perhaps their applications would be granted but many of them simply give up.

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