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

Since 2010, the €100 million in grant allocations for people with disabilities was reduced to €35 million last year. There are big waiting lists. This is a cut. The criteria being tightened represents a further cut. No one applies for a disability grant if he or she does not need it. Everything is assessed through the HSE. Amnesty International has stated that any cut in disability supports is an attack on the human rights of the disabled person. The Tánaiste is standing over that attack with his answer.

Following this cut, the Disability Federation of Ireland stated:

A whole series of public policy documents and statements promise that people with disabilities would be supported to live in their own homes in the community. The draconian cuts in the funds for housing adaptations and the further restrictions issued in the Department of the Environments circular on New Year's Eve belie that promise; by these measures, the Department is failing to deliver on the Government policies of mainstreaming and community living. We strongly urge Government to immediately prioritise the adequate funding of adaptation grants...

The Tánaiste has stood over this position for the past three years. Before the election and in his party's general election manifesto, he and the Taoiseach stated that they would make this a priority. However, the Government is continuing to cut supports for the most vulnerable in society, people who need this care. It is attacking their human rights. No amount of waffle will cover it.

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