Last week I wrote about republicanism and the growing desire to replace the me feinism now evident in Irish society with a more civically responsible, communal and caring outlook. In the coming weeks I hope to examine how this may help shape our attitudes and policies.
Republicanism demands that the 10 per cent of our population who live with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability receive, de facto, an equal opportunity to realise their full potential. About 350,000 of our fellow citizens have disabilities. In the past, our cultural and administrative systems have basically ignored them. In a country where, less than 20 years ago, inflation was as high as 21 per cent and we borrowed £1 for every £6 we earned, the argument that the resources were simply not there to embrace their needs was perhaps understandable. Today, it is not.
The time has now come to dig deep as a nation in economic terms - what I would call a Big Bang - for our disabled citizens and their carers. In Cabinet I repeatedly called for such a move, and the Taoiseach, I know, is supportive of this approach. Recognising the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities represents one of the greatest challenges facing Irish society.
Our motivations should not derive from party political sniping: they should derive from the terror which ageing parents feel for the fate of their intellectually or physically disabled child in the event of their passing away. Our motivations should also derive from the enormous courage our disabled citizens daily show, despite the huge challenges they face. Our motivations should derive from the outstanding example of our athletes at the Paralympic Games.
More than all this though, people with disabilities have the same social and economic rights as the rest of us. As the Parents' Future Planning Group has pointed out, uniquely among our citizens the disabled lack the voice and the means to lobby for the resources needed to give meaningful expression to those rights. We must speak out for them.
Historically, services for those with special needs were provided separately from the rest of society. This segregation, which Minister of State Mary Wallace has labelled "benign apartheid", has stood in direct opposition to the Government's goal of disability equality. A major step towards ending this situation was taken in June when many disability services, including vocational training, employment, information, support, audiology and psychology were "mainstreamed", that is, provided on the same basis and on the same premises as for other members of society. For example, training services previously administered by the National Rehabilitation Board (NRB) are now available through the full FAS network.
Similarly, when citizens with disability needed information on social services, they contacted the National Rehabilitation Board and the rest of society contacted the National Social Services Board. Today, a new agency, Comhairle, combines the work of both groups. Plainly, we must ensure that services for people with disabilities are provided by the agencies that deliver services to the entire community.
In the past, income supports for citizens with disabilities promoted dependence. They were inflexible, under-funded and failed to address the particular needs of individuals. Every member of Cabinet has been asked to review their support for people with disabilities and to assess them in terms of their contribution to promoting greater independence and disability equality. It is hoped this exercise will be completed within the lifetime of this Government.
The lack of appropriate day, residential and respite care services for citizens with disability is totally unacceptable. New funding will provide over 1,400 residential places and this will go some way to alleviate this gap. There should not be a gap.
THE use of psychiatric hospital and other completely inappropriate settings to care for people with intellectual disabilities must come to an end. We should act on the principle that every person with a disability, physical, sensory or intellectual, who needs a care service, should have access to such a service. We have the money now: do we have the will? My belief is that we have.
The development of care services for people with disabilities is as important as the development of our economic infrastructure. In many ways it is more important, as it speaks to our right to consider the State as a modern, developing and caring society. This stance underlies the commitment to disability services in the National Development Plan, where £70 million is being provided in the next two years in capital expenditure in the intellectual disability area. It must be asked if this is enough. I believe it is not sufficient.
However, there are some positive signs of a new awareness. For the first time in the history of the State, serious resources are being provided. Two years ago there were roughly 100 resources teachers for special needs pupils: today there are well over 400. Two years ago there were 300 special needs assistants in our schools: today there are 1,000. I do not contend, though, that money and mainstreaming alone will solve our problems.
Over recent years a comprehensive infrastructure of equality legislation benefiting citizens with disabilities has been put in place. The Employment Equality Act and the Equal Status Act are anti-discrimination measures, while the National Disability Authority Act has radically transformed the legislation on disability service provision. The National Disability Authority, with the force of statute law behind it, advises Government on the conditions and development of policy on disability issues, and will monitor the standards and impact of services.
All very well, but these measures must be continued, built upon and bettered. We have the resources now, we have the talent and the policies. Disability equality must be centre stage. Some 350,000 Irish men, women and children have lived in a state of powerlessness, exclusion and inequality - this must end.
