‘We are here today because we are frightened’
They had come to make a stand against the cuts to personal assistance and home help services as the Cabinet met for the first time since the summer recess.
And they had no intention of going away any time soon — a small group remained overnight and vowed to remain until they received written assurances about their personal assistance funding.
The protest was organised by Leigh Gath, a thalidomide survivor born without arms or legs.
She had travelled from Limerick, with her son, Karl, to attend the protest and was delighted with the turnout.
Ms Gath said the HSE could not make any more cuts in home help and personal assistance without people like her being institutionalised.
“The protest against the personal assistance cuts will continue for as long as it takes for us as citizens to be given back our independence.
“We recognise the economic realities we face as a country.
“Government does have choices to reform that do not involve targeting groups already experiencing barriers to participating in society.”
Among the protesters yesterday were Dr Margaret Kennedy and her twin sister, Ann, who live independently in separate homes in greystones, Co Wicklow.
The sisters, who are identical twins and suffer from a neuro-degenerative disease, are confined to wheelchairs.
“We do get some home help and personal assistance but we need more because it is very minimal,” said Dr Kennedy.
“We know people who cannot get out of bed in the morning and have their breakfast because there are not enough personal assistants. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
Both are on a waiting list for electric wheelchairs so they will have more independence but have been warned that they might have to wait over a year.
“Life is getting more restricted. We are both intelligent human beings and we are being denied basic fundamental rights to live with dignity and choice,” said Dr Kennedy.
“I am a former social worker and my sister is an artist. We are different people. We have lived apart for nearly 40 years.
“It is a difficult situation and we are frightened that one day people will say that we can’t cope on our own and put us in a nursing home.”
Dr Kennedy said she had been told that she would not be given more than three hours a week in personal assistance. Her sister, Ann, gets six hours a week.
“I have been told I am lucky to get three hours’ personal assistance a week but I need to get out. I don’t want to be a prisoner in my own home.”
Also at the protest was Martin Naughton, a wheelchair user and long-time disability campaigner.
“We are here today because we are frightened. I spent most of my early life in an institution. I don’t want to go back. I have a full-time job, I pay tax and I have a mortgage.”
Mr Naughton, has a personal assistant for about 20 hours a day because he needs full-time support.
Artist and founder member of the Centre for Independent Living, Hubert McCormack, said he received about 120 hours in personal assistance a week, a service already been cut by 20% since 2007.
“I can’t use my arms or my hands but my personal assistant allows me to take control of my life and live as I choose.”