6 Márta 2014, 17:18
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement was this afternoon told of the valuable work of Special Olympics Ireland, which was positively impacting on people with intellectual disabilities in every corner of the island.
6 March 2014
Representatives of Special Olympics Ireland and Special Olympics Ulster were before the Committee to consider how the health and wellbeing of those with intellectual disabilities can be enhanced through cross border support for Special Olympics Ireland.
Committee Chairman Joe McHugh TD says: “We thank the representatives of Special Olympics Ireland for stirring contributions on the work of their organisation, which is about much more than sport. The contribution of SOI on both sides of the border towards ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities reach their full potential was widely commended by Committee Members. South of the border, the organisation is part-funded by one Government department, that of Transport, Tourism and Sport. In Northern Ireland, on the other hand, there is a cross-departmental funding approach which takes account of the impact of the organisation not just in sport but also in the areas of health, education, social inclusion and the promotion of volunteering. This has also helped to ensure that funding in Northern Ireland has been less adversely affected during the cutbacks of recent years.\"
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies: Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Peter M Fitzpatrick, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Michael P Kitt, Joe McHugh (Chair), Joe O’Reilly (Vice-Chair), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Brendan Smith, Joanna Tuffy and Jack Wall
Senators: Maurice Cummins (Leader of the House), Jim D’Arcy, Mary Moran and Mary White