Disability Matters Committee to launch Budget 2022 Pre-Budget Submission ‘Aligning Disability Funding with the UNCRPD’

In advance of the meeting Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael Moynihan said: “The UNCRPD is a landmark Convention which simply seeks to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy the same human rights as everyone else. This calls for a step change across all sectors of society from a medial model of disability to a social and rights-based model of care, which ensures the inclusion of all groups of people with disabilities across our communities.”

The Cathaoirleach went on to say: “This step change requires adequate funding is allocated in the national budget for the various sectors relevant to the realisation of the rights of people with disabilities. The Committees submission highlights key issues that require funding in Budget 2022 to enable transition to a rights-based model of care for disability services over the next 3-5 years.”

The Cathaoirleach added:  “The Committee are concerned regarding the rate of poverty and social exclusion for people with disabilities in Ireland which is one of the highest in the EU and that the Indecon Cost of Disability Report which examines the cost of disability in Ireland has not been published and it appears will not inform the Budget 2022 process. 

The Committee have further concern that the level of unmet need in the disability sector, which must be addressed in Budget 2022, cannot be fully assessed until the Disability Capacity Review is published.

In their submission, the Committee call for the immediate publication of the Disability Capacity Review report, and the Indecon Cost of Disability Report so to inform the Budget 2022 process and that funding is provided to implement both reports recommendations.”

Read the full report here.

More information can be found on the dedicated Committee Webpage. Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.