THE MEMBERS of Sligo County Council supported a motion tabled by Cllr Declan Bree at this month’s meeting of the Council, calling on the government to reinstate funding to PwDI - People with Disabilities Ireland.
Addressing the meeting Cllr Bree said, “Last month the Labour Party Minister of State Kathleen Lynch T.D. announced that the government was withdrawing all funding to People with Disabilities in Ireland – PwDI,and she said she had established a new National Disability Strategy Implementation Group for people with disabilities.
“The government decision can only be described as outrageous. It will plunge people with disabilities back into the days when they had no voice, nor say in decisions made at both local and national levels and had little contact with each other.
“The decision will not only affect PwDI, but a significant group of smaller disability groups who were helped by PwDI to host conferences and events that were out of their reach as stand alone disability groups.” Cllr Bree said.
“People with Disabilities in Ireland, PwDI, is the only national cross disability organisation. Its ambition has been to help all people with disabilities to take part in and influence the decision making process that impacts on their lives and opportunities.
“It is an organisation for all people with disabilities, whether those disabilities are physical, sensory, intellectual or emotional/mental health and it also welcomed the involvement of parents, carers, siblings, partners and disability groups.
“PwDI has a national network of local committees who raise and address local issues and organise events such as conferences and activities for members. It offers a bottom up model of giving members a louder voice to raise issues on a national stage.
“PwDI has over 8,000 members and affiliated organisations, 26 local network committees across Ireland with many giving their time on a voluntary basis to build the organisation
“Since its formation over ten years ago the Sligo Network Committee of PwDI has been pro active in all areas of Disability within the county. They have lobbied and advocated on behalf of their members with regard to Access, Employment, Transport, Health, Planning and Development and any issues brought to their attention by their members.
“The Network has significant links with the HSE and the Local Authorities. They have three representatives on the Sligo Borough Council Access Committee, also three representatives on this Council’s Disability Consultative Group, a representative on the HSE Regional Co-ordinating Committee, a Director on the Sligo Sport & Recreation Partnership, a Director on the Sligo Citizens Information Board, a member on Sligo Community Forum, a member on HSE Regional Data Base Committee and the HSE Care Group. And their Board Member, Mr Oliver Durkin represents PWDI nationally on an Advisory Group within the Department of Social Protection.
“I am aware that their involvement with the Borough Council Access Committee has resulted in many access issues being resolved successfully. In addition, their input into the County Council Disability Consultative Group has highlighted many issues regarding Employment, Transport, Housing and Access in the county.” said Cllr Bree.
Cllr Bree then proposed the following motion which was unanimously adopted: “Recognising that over the past decade the PwDI (People with Disabilities in Ireland) has been accepted by statutory and non statutory organisations and agencies as being the acknowledged expert voice of people with disabilities in Ireland, this Council expresses its dismay at the government decision to withdraw all funding from the organisation; and recognising that PwDI is the umbrella organisation which brings people together locally and nationally to work on common issues that affect all people with disabilities, this Council calls on the government to reconsider its decision and to reinstate the funding without further delay.”