Dáil to debate Disability Committee’s Budget 2022 submission 'Aligning Disability Funding with the UNCRPD'

In advance of the Dáil debate on the Committees Budget 2022 Pre-Budget Submission 'Aligning Disability Funding with the UNCRPD', 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 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 highlighted key issues that require funding in Budget 2022 to enable a transition to a rights-based model of care for disability services over the next 3-5 years.”

"The Committee welcome the publication of the Disability Capacity Review and note Minister Anne Rabbitte’s Press Briefing on Budget 2022 to provide additional clarity. However, it is still unclear how, and if the funding allocation in Budget 2022 addresses the specific areas of unmet need as identified in the Disability Capacity Review, and the Committees submission."

"Considering people with disabilities living in Ireland experience significant consistent poverty and the cost of disability, the Committee are also concerned regarding this unmet need as the Indecon Cost of Disability Report, which examines the cost of disability in Ireland, has not been published and therefore did not inform the Budget 2022 process."

"The Committee welcome the allocation of the additional €105m for disability services in Budget 2022 but are concerned as it remains unclear regarding the funding breakdown, and whether new developments and services in line with the UNCRPD are included or how much will be allocated to progress current issues in the system towards a rights-based model of care."

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

The Dáil debate can be watched live here.