New research highlights a gap between the Government’s commitment to UN policy on disabilities, and how that’s delivered at local level.
The Disability Federation of Ireland says decisions on housing, transport, and public spaces can cause daily exclusions and barriers for some.
The Federation’s PJ Cleere from Carlow says a rights-based approach at national level is great – but it needs to be felt by people, on the ground, where they live.
He notes; “Local authorities are at the frontline but there are significant gaps in their capacity to fully deliver the obligations, like our local authorities receive among the lowest funding levels across the OECD countries, in spite of that there’s still some really positive efforts being made at local level and some really good models of best practice across the country but there is a lack of dedicated funding and co-ordination at local level”.
