Senator Laura Harmon demands ‘sea change’ approach to disability in Ireland
Senator Laura Harmon demands ‘sea change’ approach to disability in Ireland - The Labour Party
Labour spokesperson for Disability, Senator Laura Harmon discussed the need for urgent action on disability.
Speaking at the Oireachtas disability committee today, she said:
“Ireland is creating barriers to a normal life for disabled people throughout the country. I am calling for joined-up thinking between departments to deliver a Cost of Disability payment, greater rollout of information on supports available and to place the person at the centre of all decisions.
“Budget 2026 was a missed opportunity to introduce a Cost of Disability payment, this Government are failing to break down barriers and disabled people’s finances are taking the fall. The omission of one-off payments this year has meant a deficit of between €1200-1400 per annum for some people. “One off” or not this is money lost that was available to them last year.”
Senator Harmon is calling for the empowering of disabled people through proper services, she said:
“Greater awareness must be created around the work of Personal Assistants (PAs) in enhancing independence for disabled people. We need to see a move away from a mere “care” approach and aim to open doors to community involvement for disabled people.
“The result of the National Disability Authority’s review of the Personalised Budgets Demonstration Project is due at the end of this year. I would call for Government to ensure this is completed on time to allow services to progress.
Ireland is falling behind in regard to inclusion for disabled people at 20 percent below the average rate for employment of disabled people in the EU, Senator Harmon said:
“The new Disability Strategy for Ireland is relatively ambitious; we now need to see this ambition translate into proper implementation. Major investment is needed in community-based support with real accountability to Article 19 of the UNCRPD if Ireland is to deliver on human rights.
“I commend Senator Tom Clonan’s work on disability advocacy and the importance of personalised budgets. His Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 is being brought to its final stage next week. I welcome this and call that it be urgently enacted to address the inequality disabled people are facing in Ireland.
“We must support the right to inclusion for disabled people in all aspects of community through enhancing access supports such as PAs and personalised budgets, rather than entrenching further segregation. I would like to see greater discussion on the introduction of a statutory right to a PA such is the case in Sweden, Finland and more.”