A growing number of protesters are expected at the Taoiseach's launch of the European Year of People with Disabilities today, following revelations about understaffing in a Louth care facility.
Yesterday, The Irish Times reported that mentally and physically disabled patients in St Mary's in Drumcar were being locked up and held in straitjackets.
Mr Kevin Doyle, spokesman for the patients' families, said he expected dozens of relatives to attend this morning's protest at the Mansion House in Dublin.
The protest is being led by the National Association for Mentally Handicapped in Ireland (NAMHI) and will involve the National Parents' and Siblings' Alliance (NPSA), the Irish Autistic Alliance and the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies.
The groups had been invited to the launch of the European Year of People with Disabilities but decided to boycott it because of cutbacks in funding for intellectual disability services.
Ms Deirdre Carroll of NAMHI said the groups welcomed the designation of 2003 as European Year of People with Disabilities but they could not ignore the fact that the Taoiseach was launching it after the Government had done nothing for people with disabilities.
She said initial funding of about €20 million was needed to remedy the situation this year. The lack of residential, respite and day places would have to be addressed.
The cutbacks in intellectual disability services have also been criticised by Mr Paudge Connolly, Cavan-Monaghan's hospital action TD. He said that services for learning disabilities were bearing the brunt of cutbacks announced by the North Eastern Health Board last week.
Ms Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael spokeswoman on health, said it was "disgusting" that services were being withdrawn from people with disabilities when the Taoiseach and Government ministers were "falling over themselves" to be associated with the Special Olympics.
She said she would be attending the protest today as would the Labour party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte and deputy leader, Ms Liz McManus.
