The creation of a senior minister for disability post is a “very clear deal breaker” for the Social Democrats in any future programme for government, party leader Holly Cairns has said.
Ms Cairns said it was “an absolutely essential element” for the Social Democrats for “future Government”. She added the Social Democrats would talk to “all parties” following the general election and that health, housing and childcare would also be priorities going into any talks.
The Cork South-West TD was speaking at the launch of the Social Democrats’ disability policy in Dublin on Thursday. The policy includes the establishment of a full Minister for Disability, a “rights-based” approach to disability as well as prioritising the implementation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities.
The party would like a weekly cost of disability payment and to establish an organisation within, or in parallel with, the HSE to assume responsibility for the delivery of services for disabled people.
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The policy also includes establishing a new system to monitor and regulate the implementation of services for disabled people, including the creation of a disability Ombudsman.
Ms Cairns pointed out that disability currently falls under Roderic O’Gorman’s Ministry of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. She said it was “very clear” that disability hadn’t been given “the kind of priority that it needs”.
“It needs its own ministry if it’s going to be addressed,” Ms Cairns said.
“I think there hasn’t been any kind of political weight behind addressing the issues in disability. I don’t think there’s the capacity for one minister to oversee all of those different issues and really be able to focus on them.
“That’s why we just think it needs its own ministry so it has that weight behind it, that kind of political will, that voice that’s just for that at all of these different decision making tables.”
Ms Cairns also said that creating a Department of Infrastructure wouldn’t be something her party would be in favour of, with the idea floated by the Taoiseach Simon Harris and Fine Gael in recent months.
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