Louth TD calls for all-island disability strategy

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Disability, Ruairí Ó Murchú TD, has said that a shared, cross border vision for inclusion for those with disabilities and an agreed North-South definition of disability should be considered by the Government. 

The Louth TD was commenting following today’s publication of the ESRI’s report for the Shared Island unity, ‘How do disability rates differ across the island of Ireland?’. 

The study looked at how disability rates are reported and how they compare north and south.  While disability rates among adults aged 20 to 69 are broadly similar North (23%) and South (22%), the ESRI report shows the disparity between how people define having a disability in the two jurisdictions.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: 

“This morning’s report by the ESRI provides an important analysis of census data and shows how disability rates across the island compare.

“What is clear from the report is that there needs to be an agreed definition of what disability is and means, North and South, because the question on the censuses, from which this report is drawn, are very different.”

The Louth TD further said that the research shows that there continues to be a huge gap between disabilities and employment on both parts of the island and the Government needs to work harder to ensure that those with disabilities are facilitated into the workforce if they wish.

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“The report also highlights what those with disabilities already know – there is significant pressure on healthcare and social security systems in both jurisdictions.

“The report further highlights that higher educational attainment is strongly associated with lower disability rates, particularly in the north.

“For the Government, the report makes it clear than an All-Ireland strategy for better inclusion for those with disabilities is badly needed and formal co-ordination on an all-island strategy for people with disabilities so that barriers, such as access to cross border transport, education and services, are not placed in the way of people with disabilities just because of partition”.