Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability and Carers, Pauline Tully has slammed the lack of detail and paucity of ambition of Fianna Fáil in relation to People with Disabilities.

Pauline Tully said:

“After a manifesto launch and a supplementary policy document launch – we still don’t know how much Fianna Fáil will allocate for People with Disabilities.  

“A Sinn Féin government would deliver 3,000 residential places, so those People with Disabilities who are living in inappropriate institutional settings can have the opportunity to move into the community.

“So that young people stuck in nursing homes can move into residences with their peers.

“So that ageing parents of adults with intellectual disabilities can have peace of mind around their child’s future when they are gone or no longer able to care for them.

“Sinn Féin has allocated €622 million of additional capital funding in our manifesto for this purpose.

“Meanwhile, in their policy launch today, Fianna Fáil has provided no detail, no target, and no money that would give any of these people or their carers hope for a different future.

“When it comes to independent living, Personal Assistance hours are the critical tool, enabling people with disabilities to live good life and participate in work and society.  

“Fianna Fáil are proposing to provide just one tenth of the number of hours that their own action plan declares are the minimum necessary.  

“Sinn Féin would double personal assistance hours providing 354,000 extra hours per annum.  Our manifesto allocates 56m additional current expenditure for this purpose.

“Fianna Fáil and their partner in government for the last five years, Fine Gael, continue to fail People with Disabilities.”