Political hustings on funding for disability services

Tuesday 28th January 2020, A group of well-known disability charities who form The Disability Action Coalition, are inviting all General Election candidates in Dublin Central & Northwest constituencies to an important meeting in NCBI Head Office in Drumcondra where they will be asked to commit to securing funding for disability services in the next Government.

It will be hosted by NCBI on Friday January 31st in NCBI, Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 and will be attended by staff, people using the services and supporters from a number of disability organisations.

This meeting is only one of a number taking place nationwide in a Day of Action being organised by disability charities to highlight the crisis of funding in the sector.

Chris White, NCBI CEO said “We in the Disability Action Coalition are pressing all candidates and political parties to recognise that our services are in crisis due to underfunding. The severe cuts in our funding which were made during the recession have not been restored. This means that many of our members are in deficit, and we want this addressed. We are also dealing with the high cost of regulation and sky rocketing insurance. Pay cuts have not been restored, making it difficult to recruit staff.

“This means that our services are struggling and the entire sector is in crisis.  Now, the HSE is telling us of their plans to cut another €20m from the disability budget in 2020. This is not acceptable, and we want a commitment from candidates that they will support the services we provide for many of the most vulnerable citizens in this country”.

All candidates will be asked to pledge to resolve the problem of deficits being faced by many disability service providers, to full pay restoration, and to a secure funding model for the future.