Pay rises and tax cuts should be postponed until needs of those with disability are met

The Disability Federation of Ireland has worked persistently in the last few weeks to put the issues facing people with disability on the local and EU election agenda. We have had little success.

We are currently running a web campaign, which involves the seeking of a pledge from all current election parties and candidates, as a way of highlighting the myriad of issues facing the 600,000 or so Irish people who experience some level of disability. We are simply asking candidates to make a commitment to “Leave Nobody Behind”, if elected.

Tomorrow, citizens throughout Ireland will elect the candidates they choose to represent them in local government and in the European parliament over the next five years. Among those casting their votes on the day will be many of the 595,000 citizens in Ireland with a disability, as well as their families, friends and communities. These elections therefore represent a hugely important moment for these groups of voters to ensure the mainstreaming, inclusion and equality of people with disabilities.

Since 2008, there have been consistent and growing cuts to necessary services and income supports, which are so vital for people with disabilities and their families. These people have been left behind by society but more especially by our elected representatives.

Government lacks sufficient commitment and ambition to implement its own plans for people with disabilities, to ensure that services are protected. There is a growing level of need, which is being ignored in the context of our downturn. How long can our ‘downturn’ be used as a reason for depriving people with disability their basic rights as citizens?

People are living longer and our population is growing, yet Government does not seem to be future-proofing services and supports. It has become clear that our public and social services have failed to protect the life chances of people with disabilities. There no longer exists a functional infrastructure of social supports in this State that is available when people with disabilities and their families need it. By the end of next year, we will no longer have the basic elements in place to support people with disabilities.

We are now hearing repeated calls for pay rises and for tax reductions from the business and trade union movements, and the case being made is that the extra money circulating will help the economic recovery.

There should be no further consideration of these approaches until Ireland has a credible and functioning infrastructure to support people with disabilities, mental health needs, chronic illnesses —– and also provide support to their families. Lets get our priorities right as we enter a new era in our democracy, an era which will hopefully have less focus on greed and more on treating all our citizens equally.

Disability and long-term illnesses are an issue for every home at some stage, and no amount of private health insurance will successfully buffer individuals and families against it. Only a strong and thoughtful public health and social services system will give the necessary protection. Only a committed, ambitious and determined State can deliver that and it needs the active support of the community to support it.

Irish people have been very patient in working with the Government in resolving a problem, which was not of the making of the vast majority of our people. And in fairness the Government has performed well in tackling this issue. But surely there comes a time when we must face up to our responsibilities and stop using a strategic economic issue as an excuse for not supporting those most in need. The often discussed issues of markets and equity performance, as important as they may be in overall terms, have little value for those who need basic services to live a normal life.

The people of Ireland will only benefit from our recovery when they have real issues addressed in their homes, towns and villages. And our politicians have a massive responsibility to ensure that this will happen. Seven years of austerity, with more on the way, is a long time for those who were already struggling at its commencement.

Are we content to deliberately leave people and families behind? – that is the question all politicians and those aspiring for office must ask themselves at this time.

John Dolan is Chief Executive Officer, Disability Federation of Ireland