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

The Government's Green Paper on disability reform is shameful and will further marginalise disabled people. Although couched in language of care, in reality it will demonise people and blame them for Government failure. Under the proposed plans, people with disabilities will be subjected to a medical assessment and categorised into three tiers based on their ability to work. The plan attempts to rationalise this by highlighting that Ireland has the lowest rate of employment for disabled people in the EU, but at no stage does the document identify the reasons. The lack of State services and supports are the primary reason so many disabled people are cut out of educational opportunities and the workforce. If the Taoiseach wants to do something in regard to disability, why does he not provide disabled people with adequate services and supports, introduce a weekly cost of disability payment that actually reflects the significant costs set out in the Government's own report, and ratify the optional protocol?

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