Sir, - A Budget surplus of £747 million is good news for any economy but less welcome in a country that has yet to redress significant inequalities faced by many of its citizens.
People with disabilities, their families and their carers still largely remain outside the consideration of financial decision-makers. Children with disabilities still have an unequal chance in education due to a lack of such basic resources as classroom assistants, remedial teachers, accessible school buildings or school transport. Many leave school without any formal qualifications and are faced with a lifetime of being disadvantaged and dependent on social welfare payments.
Young people wishing to undertake a FAS, VTOS or college training opportunity often have their chances reduced by the lack of adequate personal assistant programmes in many parts of the country. Social welfare rules even prohibit their participation in summer work programmes.
Many adults with disabilities are not even included in unemployment statistics. They remain hidden away in the so-called Tiger Economy. Despite recent employment equality legislation, up to 80 per cent are unemployed. They face poor prospects of obtaining gainful employment in a country whose employment plans largely exclude their needs, skills and abilities.
Women, with or without disabilities, often face additional discriminations. Many women have to leave work to become the primary carer for a family member. The family income is reduced, often at the time of greatest need. Once again people are faced with a spiralling poverty trap in a country which is apparently happy to tolerate dependence rather than promote independence.
An economy that ignores the needs of 10 per cent of citizens is effectively "disabled". Practical solutions and recommendations to redress the above issues are detailed in "A Strategy for Equality", the 1996 report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. All political parties welcomed this report but our political decision-makers have yet to put these recommendations into effect.
SIPTU believes that workers and employers would welcome the investment of part of the Budget surplus in promoting economic and social opportunities for people with disabilities.
Tax contributors would see practical and worthwhile value for their money and, most importantly, 360,000 people with disabilities would have some opportunity to gain from and contribute towards the development of our country. - Yours, etc., Michael Gogarty, Disability Policy Advisor, SIPTU,
Liberty Hall, Dublin 1.