'Distress and outrage' among people with disabilities over Government reform proposals
Chaney/ Of Of The Disability Maryam Department Preparation Gareth Of Chairperson Power The Ireland, Protection Collins Of Of Social Madani, By Disability Paper Picture: In The The Photos The Inclusion Criticised Lack Green Groups Has
A rally is being staged outside the Dáil this lunchtime in protest at the Government’s Green Paper on Disability Reform.
Campaigners will assemble at midday and hand over a petition to TDs and Senators.
The chairperson of Disability Power Ireland, Maryam Madani, has criticised the lack of inclusion of disability groups in the preparation of the Green Paper by the Department of Social Protection.
It proposes reforming the structure of long-term disability payments by establishing a three-tiered system.
Ms Madani told RTÉ radio’s that the Green Paper did not include proposals to remove societal barriers to employment such as improving workplace accessibility or disability equality training for employers.
The Department of Social Protection said that Minister Heather Humphreys published a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme for employers and has agreed to the recommended changes, which are to be implemented in early 2024.
A coalition of disability groups will participate in a mass protest outside the Dáil this afternoon to oppose reform of disability allowance.
“They have come together to protest this because there has been so much distress and outrage in the community since the announcement of these proposals," Ms Madani.
"We will be categorised into tiers based solely on the perception of our capacity to work from independent medical assessors.
"All of this goes completely against everything that disabled people and our representative organisations, have been saying for decades."
She said that it also goes against the United Nations Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCPRD).
It is unbelievable that such a proposal has been brought forward, Ms Madani added.
“But we know why. And that's because disabled people and were not consulted with from the beginning before these proposals were drawn up.”
Ms Madani said that all the representative organisations have been preparing submissions and consultations which they found to be “inaccessible and demeaning”.
“A lot of our disabled members have found them to be inaccessible and difficult for them in many different ways. And there hasn't been space for them to speak.
Members fought to have the consultation period extended until March - it was initially to end on December 15.
“Most of the people in the disabled community are still catching up to this. It was kind of brought in under our noses without giving sufficient time for disabled people to be able to understand fully what's involved in the proposals and to be able to submit their responses."
According to the UNCPRD, disabled people in their organisations need to be consulted on all policy matters before they even get to a Green Paper stage.
Ms Madani said that the cost of the proposed tiered system had not been released.
“Estimating even just €100 per medical assessment of everyone already on disability services brings us to over €15 million.
"That's a lot of unnecessary expenses that could be brought into other things. For example, making the workplaces more accessible for disabled people to enter employment."
The unemployment rate among disabled people is at 70% and Ms Madani said that the Green Paper reduces this to an individual's fault.
"Instead of looking at the social model of disability, which has our systems in place and the barriers we have to entering the workplace in the first place," she said.
Ahead of Thursday's protest, the Department said that proposals have not been finalised and are designed for public consultation.
"The Green Paper proposals are trying to address the twin challenges of insulation people who cannot work from experiencing poverty; and promoting and supporting a higher rate of employment for disabled people," it said in a statement.
It said that the proposals are not a cost-cutting measure and, if introduced, it would cost an additional €130m per year and many people would see an increase of over €45 per week.
"Nobody will lose their entitlement to a disability payment arising from the Green Paper proposals, nor will they see that payment level reduced.
"In addition, engagement with public employment services will be on a voluntary basis."