Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the latest cut to affect people with disabilities. Without any prior warning, a circular issued on new year's eve from a Labour Party Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government announced cuts in the housing adaptation and mobility aid grants with immediate effect for all new applicants. These changes in the income bands will have a serious impact. For example, if a household's income is €41,000, which is not a significant amount for two or three people working, it will now need to pay 50% of the adaptation costs. Previously, it only needed to pay 30%. This is a decrease in the grant from €21,000 to €15,000. The further decision to include the entire household will also impede people's ability to apply.

These grants cover a range of adaptations, including stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, bathrooms for persons with disabilities, ground floor toilets, etc. These can make the difference between living at home in the community and being put into institutional care. The claim that the Government has increased the amount available is a joke. While it increased from €35 million to €38 million this year, the reality is a €56 million cut since 2010, some two thirds overall. This has led to significant waiting lists for the grants.

Since 2008, people with disabilities have suffered a cut of more than 8% to means-tested welfare payments, a cut to respite care supports and a 14% cut to essential health services. Does the Tánaiste agree that these cuts amount to an all-out assault on the hard fought for rights of people with disabilities to independent living? Does he agree that this matter is a further onslaught on their fundamental human rights?

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