Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

This motion is about taking steps towards providing the changes we need to be a more inclusive and equal society. It is about the budgetary measures and policies that allow people to exercise their rights. The scale and depth of the issues are known. What we need is the political will. This budget must address the cost-of-living crisis but it must also address the cost-of-disability crisis. Even before the current crisis, it cost between €8,700 and €12,300 extra every year to live with a disability in Ireland. These figures are from the Government's own report, which supports everything which the people and organisations in the Gallery and watching at home have been saying for years.

A major component of the additional costs faced by disabled people and the families of children with disabilities relates to grossly inadequate education, healthcare, social welfare and housing services. A core pillar of Social Democrats policy is the provision of public services. In our alternative budget last year, we proposed the idea of universal basic services based on the principle that all people are entitled to a range of public services that are free at the point of use, provided by the State and funded through taxation. Public disability services are required now. They are central to respecting rights and empowering children and adults.

The disability capacity review outlines the considerable unmet needs in the health and care sectors. The review was published almost a year ago. Where is the action plan? Is this plan based on engagement with the disabled persons organisations, advocacy organisations, parents' groups and service providers? Any response to unmet needs in this sector has to work with the people most affected and service users. For too long, Departments have made decisions for people and not with them. Regrettably, we saw this again last week when the Government rushed through the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022 with little or no input from disabled people. We need a comprehensive and resourced action plan that responds to the needs identified and to larger systematic issues around the recruitment and retention of therapists and communication with families. The provision of the services people have a right to would be transformative. It would help children develop, adults gain independence and relieve the unimaginable stress and pressure that parents of all ages are under. The provision of appropriate local school places for children and young people has to be a pillar of this intervention. Members of the West Cork Special School campaign have travelled here today to highlight this key issue.

The cost of disability report also requires an action plan to adequately deal with the substantial range of matters raised. Social protection payments, healthcare grants and other supports need to be tailored to meet the needs of disabled people. This motion calls for a €20 weekly cost-of-disability payment across relevant payments, including domiciliary care allowance, carer's allowance and the invalidity pension, and an additional €15 for the disability allowance. These are the just the most basic increases needed to keep up with skyrocketing inflation. The Government has to outline a costed and long-term plan developed in co-ordination with disabled people to address the systemic and crippling cost-of-disability crisis. The 2023 budget will be focused on the cost-of-living crisis but it will also be crucial for addressing the structural barriers around disability. For too long, people have waited for proper homes, school places, therapies, respite and payments that cover household expenses. Unless there is a significant and impactful change of direction in the budget, the suffering, the exclusion and the denial of rights will continue unabated.

I acknowledge all those tirelessly campaigning for equality. Whether it is people who are disabled themselves, parents, carers, family or friends, there are countless groups and campaigns out there all striving for disability rights. I thank my amazing team, Tara Constantine, Richard Scriven and Claire.

I extend huge thanks to all the organisations that could make it here today, including Independent Living Movement Ireland, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Inclusion Ireland, Mental Health Reform, the National Disability Services Association, the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, AsIAm, Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease Ireland, the Down Syndrome Centre Cork, West Cork Special Schools, and the Irish Wheelchair Association. I also thank those who travelled from Cork South-West. Their presence is a testament to the work that needs to be done. The scale of issues and solutions are known. It is now up to the Government to act.

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