The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) is a national support organisation and advocate for voluntary disability organisations, of which St. Michael’s House is a member, who provide services to people with disabilities and disabling conditions.  There are more than 120 organisations within the membership, representing those with intellectual, mental health, physical, sensory, neurological, emotional and hidden disabilities. 

In October 2011 the Disability Federation, on behalf of its members, made a pre budget submission to the Government.

Key points made in the submission include

• To honour the committment in the National Disability Strategy and the Renewed programme for Government to prioritise services for people with disabilities
• To protect services for people with disabilities from any further cuts.
• The remove the moratorium on staff recruitment
• To protect people with disabilities income and benefits

The Submission concludes by stating that DFI appreciates that the Government faces a difficult situation when planning Budget 2011.  But undermining the investment already made to enhance the lives of a very vulnerable group of people, or failing to build the capacity of statutory and non-statutory bodies to work together to best use resources is short sighted.  Budgetary measures should not reject the Government’s accepted disability priority, nor burden those in society least able to bear it.  Ireland cannot afford to cut loose from the National Disability Strategy Strategy at this time.

Click here to download the full text of the submission