Budget 2012: Press release

Down Syndrome Ireland deplores the changes being made to the payment of the disability allowance and the domiciliary care allowance.  While we appreciate that difficult decisions need to be taken the very basic income of people with Down syndrome was already cut in 2011.  This latest measure aimed at bringing consistency across all age groups in receipt of social welfare, neglects to take account of the reality that young people with Down syndrome are excluded from all the activation programmes announced to date by this same department.   People with Down syndrome are willing and available to work with the correct supports in place but these are not forthcoming.  These changes can only be accepted when young people with Down syndrome have the same access to the supports that are available to the rest of society.

Pat Clarke CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland stated that:

"These changes will ultimately lead to people with Down syndrome being further excluded from society and will reverse all the gains made in the past decade."

For further information:

Contact:               Pat Clarke, CEO, Down Syndrome Ireland

Phone                   083 3914566

Email                     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Message to DSI members:

We encourage all DSI members to show their opposition to the purposed changes and keep the pressure on Government by writing to the Minister and their local TDs.  A template letter for this purpose can be downloaded here