Longford-Westmeath TDs “must support” Sinn Féin plan to support people with disability

A Longford-Westmeath TD says other elected representatives must get behind Sinn Féin's plan to deliver support for disabled people and their families in the county, one elected representative has said.

Speaking as the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability and Carers, Pauline Tully, committed to bringing forward a Dáil motion to address the “stark shortcomings” in the government's approach to addressing people's needs the Longford Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke said the government needs to start treating disabled people, their families and family carers with respect.

Deputy Clarke said: “It's time for TDs in Longford-Westmeath to support Sinn Féin's plans to deliver real support for disabled people and their families.

“Sinn Féin in government would deliver real support for disabled people and their families.”

Deputy Clarke believes the issue is very pressing: “Disabled people and family carers deserve so much better but instead feel abandoned, that they are not being listened to and that they have been constantly let down by the government.

“That is why Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability and Carers, Pauline Tully, is bringing forward a Dáil motion this week to make rights real for disabled people and their families.”

The Sinn Féin TD said recent announcements did not go far enough: “The additional funding of €42m announced in Budget 2025 for new development measures comes nowhere near the level of funding required to address the issues found in the Disability Capacity Review, while the latest HSE Children’s Disability Staff Census and Workforce Review found there were 817 staff vacancies.”

She said the budget did not address the issue: “They must acknowledge its failure to truly recognise the additional cost of disability in Budget 2025, and rectify this mistake in the upcoming Social Welfare Miscellaneous Bill 2024 to ensure core disability-related social welfare schemes are increased by €20.

“The government needs to promote employment, allocating an additional €10m to the Wage Subsidy Scheme for workers with disabilities.”

Deputy Clarke concluded by saying: “Our motion also calls for an end to the practice of placing people under 65 in nursing homes and to make greater provision for disabled people to live in appropriate accommodation by investing in decongregation, and providing housing and housing supports in the community.

“The government needs to start treating disabled people, their families and family carers with respect. They would be prioritised in a Sinn Féin government.”