Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., recently announced that a new National Advocacy Service for people with disabilities will be set up under the Citizens Information Board. The new Service will provide independent, representative advocacy services for people with disabilities and will be in place from January 2011.

Minister Ó Cuív commented, “I am very aware that people’s rights and entitlements are often dependent on access to good advice. This is particularly relevant to those who need someone else to advocate on their behalf.”
Minister Ó Cuív went on to explain: “The new Service will consist of five regional teams replacing the existing pilot projects which have provided assistance to more than 5,000 people with disabilities. The five regional teams will be managed by Citizens Information Services in Dublin, Westmeath, Offaly, Waterford and Leitrim.”

Advocacy Support Workers will be recruited so that more people with disabilities can access and use the general Citizens Information Services while the National Advocacy Service will seek out and respond to more vulnerable people with disabilities.

Minister Ó Cuív concluded: “The new National Advocacy Service will give a voice to people with disabilities who are isolated in the community or who are living in residential institutions and who cannot represent themselves. The Service will protect their rights, help them gain their entitlements, obtain a fair hearing and make positive changes in their quality of life.”