Sir, – On a week that our country was shamed on hearing about the death of a beautiful young woman in a maternity hospital, on Wednesday we were shamed again, when hundreds of people with disabilities had to march on the Dáil in an effort to stop the cuts that have been incessant over the past number of years.
The care providers who are the saving force in the lives of our most vulnerable are now at crisis point. If another cent is stopped from these organisations, they will have no choice but to cut the services they provide. Day care, respite, transport and social worker care will all be cut.
Today I marched with my daughter who depends on these services. Among the crowd were young fathers with toddlers on their shoulders, elderly couples struggling to keep up with the march as they continued being the voice for their sons and daughters. They came from every corner of the country in their hundreds. Of course for all the hundreds who came, there were more at home who couldn’t come. Wheelchairs were pushed, blind people were led, others were linked and supported, all united in the call on the men and women who rule this country to please do no more harm in relation to these needy, vulnerable people. They can take no more.
We would call on all who can, to please add their voice for those who cannot. – Yours, etc,