Fine Gael Disability Spokesman David Stanton has today (Sunday) announced that the Party is setting up a Disability Policy Commission in order to channel concerns from the sector into a new Disability Policy.
The Commission is being set up at the request of Party Leader Enda Kenny TD. Deputy Stanton said he was very happy to accept responsibility for its implementation.
“People with disabilities are still being sidelined by the Government. In spite of numerous promises from Fianna Fáil and the Greens, much of the national disability strategy has not been implemented.
“Fine Gael is very worried that further cutbacks to disability services will now be inflicted.
“As Fine Gael Disability Spokesperson I already maintain regular contact with individuals and groups. Fine Gael is now taking this a stage further by setting up a new Disability Policy Commission.
“This Commission will comprise a small panel of representatives and experts, and will channel the concerns of disability organisations, support groups and carers. These issues will be fed into the Party’s new Disability Policy, which will address the many areas of the national disability strategy which have still not been implemented.
“Fine Gael’s policy will be developed from a human rights perspective, encompassing the values enunciated in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“It will be based on three main concepts of independent living, universal design and individualised funding, all of which aim to ensure that people with disabilities live full lives as active members of their communities.”
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