'People with disabilities and carers in Carlow-Kilkenny deserve so much better' - Funchion

Sinn Féin TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, Kathleen Funchion has said that people with disabilities and carers deserve better and claims they would be prioritised by a Sinn Féin government.

Deputy Funchion was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin's Dáil motion, which calls on the government to deliver rights-based access to supports and services, and to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Optional Protocol once and for all.

"People with disabilities and carers in Carlow-Kilkenny deserve so much better. Instead, they feel abandoned and have been constantly let down by this government," Ms Funchion said.

"They need to see much more substantial supports delivered. These include assessments of need, therapy supports, personal assistants, homecare assistants, assistive technology and respite."

"Financial supports for people with disabilities and family carers are inadequate and fail minimum essential standards of living tests," she added.

According to the Sinn Fein TD, the government must introduce a comprehensive rights-based charter for family carers and relax the Carer's Allowance means test and increase disability allowance, invalidity pension, illness benefit, carer’s allowance and benefit, and the annual carer's support grant.