'The voices of people with disabilities must be heard' - Kilkenny TD

Sinn Féin TD Kathleen Funchion has called on the government to listen to people with disabilities in Carlow-Kilkenny and 'bin' the Green Paper on disability payment reforms.

Deputy Funchion added that the consultation process demonstrated the government's 'lack of respect', and that the voices of people with disabilities must be heard.

A Green Paper by the Department of Social Protection has suggested reforming the structure of long-term disability payments by establishing a three-tiered system and includes the suggestion of a new model of long-term disability payments where the level of payment made to a person with a disability is calculated based on the nature and impact of their disability.

"The proposals the Government have brought forward have caused huge concern that they will follow the Tory model in Britain where people are forced into work that is unsuitable and people with disabilities face sanction. The consultation process was poor throughout, and demonstrated once again a lack of respect for people with disabilities, local Sinn Fein TD, Kathleen Funchion commented.

"While the current system of disability payments is not fit for purpose and reform is badly needed, the proposals contained within the Green Paper are not the answer, they would further extend the existing problems," Deputy Funchion added.

"Low levels of employment and the very high extra cost of disability compound the need for urgent system-change to ensure people don't fall further below the poverty line. But the current Green Paper proposals wrongfully conflate the cost of disability with employment and capacity to work."

"In many cases where people with disabilities are in employment it is often, due to educational barriers, in low paid jobs with little prospect of progression. Therefore, their ability to lift themselves out of poverty through employment alone is limited by the current system," Ms Funchion stated.

"The message from people with disabilities in Carlow-Kilkenny is loud and clear. They want the government to listen to them, and they want the Green Paper binned," Deputy Funchion concluded.