Senator John Dolan has written to all County and City Councils with a proposed motion that he requests be put before all councils in the coming weeks, in regard to ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).

Speaking today Senator John Dolan said, “Since taking up office and in my role as CEO Disability Federation, I have lobbied successive governments for the ratification of the UN CRPD. Despite ongoing promises and various commitments we are now recognised both nationally and internationally for our failure to ratify a hugely important treaty, which we signed over 10 years ago”

Dolan continued, “In order to highlight the failure of government to ratify this convention and the key responsibility of local authorities post ratification, I have decided to contact all councils today with this proposed motion. All Local Authorities have a statutory obligation to support people with disabilities to live fully in their communities as part of an ongoing programme of support. The motion is aimed to assist Local Authorities in highlighting their obligations, and hopefully encourage them to review and ensure ongoing compliance. I invited all recently elected Mayor’s and Cathaoirligh to the Oireachtas and I stressed the key role of councils in ensuring that we are compliant with a fully ratified CRPD, post ratification stressing the fact that Local Authorities play a critical and unique role in peoples lives as they live within a council area”

Dolan again raised the issue of waiting lists and people with disabilities, “RTE recently advised all of us that at the end of June, there were at least 7,632 people with intellectual, mental, physical and sensory issues on social housing waiting lists. This is a scandal – a scandal that can be addressed in the context of ratifying and fully meeting our commitments under the CRPD. This process of dealing with waiting lists and the range of issues impacting on the 600,000 people in Ireland (13% of the population) who are living with a disability must be included in Budget 2018. If we don't have clarity, as opposed to aspirations, in Budget 2018 on how services and supports for people with disabilities can be improved - the entire disability community will understandably feel rejected and marginalised once again”.
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For contact Senator John Dolan – 01 618 3648 -  086 795 7467

Full motion and briefing document attached below along with Stats by county