People with disabilities and carers deserve better, says Sorca Clarke

People with disabilities and carers deserve better and would be prioritised by a Sinn Féin government, Deputy Sorca Clarke says.

She was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin's Dáil motion, brought forward by party spokesperson on Disability and Carers, Pauline Tully, and to be debated later today, Tuesday, which calls on the government to deliver rights-based access to supports and services, and to ratify the UNCRPD Optional Protocol once and for all.

Teachta Clarke said: "People with disabilities and carers in Longford-Westmeath deserve so much better."

"Instead, they feel abandoned and have been constantly let down by this government.

"They need to see much more substantial supports delivered.

"Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability and Carers Pauline Tully is today bringing forward a Dáil motion which calls on the government to deliver rights-based access to supports for people with disabilities.

"These include assessments of need, therapy supports, personal assistants, homecare assistants, assistive technology and respite.

"We are also calling on the government to ratify the UNCRPD Optional Protocol once and for all, and to now commit to a date as to when it will do so.

"Sinn Féin's motion also calls on the government to outline a multi-annual funding plan for delivering the Disability Action Plan, and in particular extending independent living supports, access to therapies, and availability of respite services.

"As well as this, the government must accept and realise that the €55.6 million in additional new development funding which was provided for disability services in Budget 2024 is not adequate to deliver the measures contained in the Disability Services Action Plan.

"They must introduce a comprehensive rights-based charter for family carers and update the carers’ strategy to provide the necessary steps across all departments and in order to deliver the rights in the charter.

"They must also relax the Carer’s Allowance means test and increase disability allowance, invalidity pension, illness benefit, carer’s allowance and benefit, and the annual carer’s support grant.

"Financial supports for people with disabilities and family carers are inadequate and fail minimum essential standards of living tests.

“People with disabilities and carers deserve better and they deserve our support. They would be prioritised in a Sinn Féin government."