Dec 8, 2010
Budget 2011: Cuts to Disability Funding
There has been a justified lack of trust amongst the disability community who have been at the sharp end of cuts to funding this past year. See posts here and here. As Mary Keogh pointed out persons with disabilities had every reason to fear this budget (see here). Those fears became a reality when the government announced cuts of in the disability allowance, the carers allowance and the carer’s benefit and constant attendance allowance. Opposition parties are opposing the Social Welfare Bill on the basis that the cuts to disability funding are unjust (see here).
Disability Allowance (personal rate): reduced from €196 to €188
Disability Allowance (person with qualified adult) reduced from €326.10 to €312.80
Carers Allowance (under 66) reduced from €212 to €204
Carers Allowance (over 66) €239 (remains unchanged)
Carers Benefit reduced from €213 to €205
The cuts mean that a person with a disability allowance will face a reduction in income of €847.60 for the coming year. Inclusion Ireland have stated that persons with disabilities have “been hit as an easy target” in the budget. These cuts will have a significant impact on the quality of life of persons on the disability allowance and carers allowance and on their living standards. These cuts follow on from cuts last year. The cuts represent a failure to recognise the additional costs that persons with disabilities often face.
On a more positive note Disability Services in Budget 2011 will only face a maximum reduction of just 1.8% in disability funding in 2011. There is to be an additional 10 million allocation to meet the predicted need for emergency residential, respite and personal home support for people with disabilities and day places for school leavers in September 2011 (see here). It is also reported by the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies that the CEO of the HSE will take a fexible approach in relation to the moratorium on recruitment in respect of disability services. See here.
The Economic and Social Research Institute in its Report Monitoring Poverty Trends in Ireland 2004-2007: Key Issues for Children, People of Working Age and Older People highlighted that persons unable to work on the basis of disability or illness were amongst the groups at greater risk of becoming caught in the deepening poverty trap. The Government cuts to disability services does not reflect its obligations as a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to undertake “… measures to the maximum of its available resources and … with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of these rights…” Article 4 (2) – General Obligations.
The inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in society requires funding. These cuts do not accord with the Governments policy commitments to persons with disabilities. As Mary Keogh noted in her blog “prudent fiscal management is being sold as the only solution, however short-term reductions to bring fiscal expenditure into line also have long-term consequences for all of Irelands citizens and particularly for those who are in need of state support to live their lives” (see here).
