IT WAS the day the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) sent its angry letter to the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, as a follow up to the angry DFI meeting in Galway.
It isn't every day that an umbrella organisation, representing some 61 entities, involving about 400,000 people, sends an angry letter to a Taoiseach; and, as I hurried to the news conference, called to explain the DFI anger, I hoped the hall would not be too crowded - not oily because I am not at my best in crowds but because there would be people there more disadvantaged than I, especially the wheelchair users.
I could visualise hordes of politicians, anxious to reach the ears of the 400,000 people affected by disabilities milling about the hall or queuing to get a "hault" of the microphone on this, the virtual eve of a general election.
Amateur politicians
Oh no, I need not have worried. We amateur politicians, so keen to help our brothers and sisters, were very much on our own, in a room, not a hall, about a dozen and a half of us, mostly representing some of those 61 entities.
I was there on behalf of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, which has nothing to do with motors as normally understood, but much to do with human muscles hit by a disease which, up to now, has no cure.
We amateur politicians or pressure people had at least one thing in common: We wondered how long we could continue in existence, doing what elsewhere is supplied by the state but at a fraction of the cost; and we receive no statutory funding, despite promises, promises, promises.
Promises, promises, I can hear you saying: Sure don't that crowd promise the moon and the stars?
They do; and only a fool takes them seriously. But this was different, as Roger Acton, DFI chief executive, pointed out to our tiny conference. The Government had refused to do anything until a very detailed survey had been prepared, and costs carefully ascertained. This had to be printed and considered by Government before we were to expect a farthing.
The Government did consider the document and authorised its publication. This, it was a solemn, collective Cabinet decision, to spend £12 million. The title of the document was Towards an Independent Future. It recognised that people - even sick people - have rights but that these rights have been left largely to charities, the 61 entitles, to be translated from hopes to realities.
In the angry letter to the Taoiseach, signed by John Dolan, chairperson, DFI, it was stated that the document, Towards an Independent Future, "shows clearly that there is no basic cover for services around the country. This is unacceptable . . . Intolerable pressure is being heaped on families and carers . . . The report makes detailed recommendations in relation to meeting . . . needs for people with disabilities and has costed the implementation . . . for Year One at just £12 million.
Mr Dolan points out that the report was published before last January's budget and that Year One should have begun last January but did not; and that no reason has been given by the Government for the failure.
Economic growth
The Taoiseach got that letter the day that the Economic and Social Research institute (ERSI) assured us all that economic growth would continue at five per cent for some years.
Thus, there would seem to be no economic reason for reneging on the collective decision of Government to make £12 million available for these much needed services. This is money which would ensure continued activity by some of those 61 entities at present working on overdrafts.
As Roger Acton pointed out, the endangered associations would hold on as long as possible making workers redundant, working on shoestrings, putting at risk the health of those who remain, forced to work from early morning to late night.
The Government says it is committed to easing unemployment and improving health, but it has a strange way of showing its concern.
Our association, and all the others, as far as I know, depend on fundraising which, in our case, means begging in public most of the time, though always ready to accept donations, so few and far between.
We, like the others, are a registered charity but we must obtain written permission from the Garda to beg at church gates. Sometimes clergy don't want us at their gates. You'd think that a simple solution would occur, that, the clergy being sympathetic, the Garda would give the permission.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. On occasion, gardai remote from Dublin tend to favour local charities at the expense of "those Dublin crowds", ignorant, perhaps, of the fact that most of the 61 are caring for clients in most, if not all, counties in the State.
Strange anomalies
There are other strange anomalies. Though a registered charity, we must pay VAT on purchases necessary for the care of patients as well as on office equipment, stationery and services. We are grateful that wheelchairs are exempted; but why not all the rest?
To return to Mr Dolan's letter to the Taoiseach: "We were informed by the Minister for Health last November, when we eventually had our meeting with him, that physical and sensory disability was a priority. To date, there is no evidence of this in the context of the implementation of the report.
"The delegates to the DFI conference . . . expressed anger that this sector has always had a low priority with successive Governments and consequently is now suffering from a cumulative last of investment in services to people with disability. The Irish economy is performing particularly well right now and the indications are that this will continue for the future. This offers a unique opportunity for your Government to make a meaningful investment in these much needed services for people with physical and sensory disability."
Are we heading for equality in society, with the same rights for all, particularly in health? Or is health to continue to depend on the weight of one's purse?