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Labour Seanad motion seeks reversal of cuts affecting children with disabilities

Issued : Friday 24 October, 2008

The Labour Party will urge the Government to reverse the cuts affecting children with disabilities when it tables a motion in the Seanad next Wednesday.

The text of the motion reads:
Seanad Éireann notes that in addition severe to cuts in allowances for young persons with disabilities, the recent budget statement contains a significant number of measures affecting children with disabilities.

Seanad Éireann further notes that children with disabilities are more prone to hospital visits, and are therefore likely to be disproportionately affected by the increase in A&E charges, the increase in hospital bed fees and increases in medical insurance costs.

Seanad Éireann believes that it is essential that children with disabilities have access to mainstream education for as long as possible. In this regard, class size is an essential ingredient of success for both the teacher and student. The increase in permitted class size from 27 to 28 per teacher will adversely affect every child's education, but most especially those with disabilities.

Seanad Éireann deplores the deferring of implementation of the "Education for Persons with Special Needs Act", together with the 1% cut in funding for voluntary disability bodies which comes on top of an already implemented 1% cut to the same organisations by the HSE.

Accordingly, Seanad Éireann calls on the government to reverse these unacceptable cuts forthwith.

Leader of the Labour Group, Senator Alex White said, "Despite not being referred to in the Budget, the Minister's callous move to stop disability allowance for 16 and 17 year olds has caused great upset for those families affected.

"The Minister told the Dáil he was looking out for those most vulnerable in society. Children with disabilities and their families were not even considered. Instead we have an insensitive and unsympathetic Government whose cuts have been aimed at those they hoped would not complain."