In this issue:
ILMI Meeting with Minister Foley
Cost of Disability
DPO Network Meeting with Minister Higgins
Dublin DPO Launch at the Mansion House
ILMI meeting with Minister Foley
On Wednesday 18th February, ILMI met with Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD to discuss key issues around the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 to 2030.
Peter Kearns, ILMI DPO Development Officer outlined the role of Local DPOs. The Minister was keen to hear about how and where ILMI was supporting local DPO development, and Peter demonstrated real impact of local DPO on Disabled People through Disability Equality training and the impact of local DPOs with the HSE and local structures such as Public Participation Networks (PPNs).
Fiona Weldon, ILMI Capacity Development Officer spoke about the importance of the Personal Assistance Service, and how ILMI’s PAS NOW campaign has shifted policy development and investment in PA Services. Fiona stressed the need for the Minister to ensure DCDE leadership on ensuring the development of a National PAS system as outlined in the National Human Rights Strategy.
Damien Walshe spoke of the importance of reform of Disability Services and that reform of Service Level Agreements must include targets to ensure Disabled People lead Disability Services and are employed by Disability Services as outlined in ILMI’s position paper “A Manifesto for Change”.
ILMI presented Minister Foley with our 2025 Annual report, demonstrating our impact as a national cross-impairment DPO.
Cost of Disability
On 17 February, ILMI’s Damien Walshe and Claire Kenny presented a short presentation on the strategic focus network and the cost of disability Summit, which the Department of Social Protection is leading. The summit will assist in the creation of the cost-of-disability scheme.
The meeting began with an introduction to strategic focus networks. And about the planned upcoming cost of disability summit. It is important to ILMI, as a disabled persons’ organisation, that disabled people’s voices and expertise must be central to every stage of shaping this scheme. This begins with being at the table, co-designing a fully inclusive cost-of-disability summit with an agenda that addresses key topics – issues important to us as disabled people. Members highlighted key issues, including inaccessible language and formats, mistrust from past consultations, and a need for more accessible information from the department and for ways to work with us to address these concerns. While also contributing to what topics we feel are important to cover as part of the agenda.
We look forward to engaging with the department to ensure meaningful engagement with disabled people through their DPOs, such as ILMI, so that the Summit is fully inclusive and accessible to all disabled people who want to take part and thus ensuring that the cost-of-disability scheme has a meaningful impact on the lives of disabled people, promoting a more equal and inclusive society.
Thank you to all who attended the discussion, and we look forward to you joining us for another discussion, which will take place on Tuesday, 3 March, from 3 pm to 4:30 pm, email michaelseifu@ilmi.ie to register, where we will explore questions such as what measures could be taken by all Government Departments to address the additional costs that Disabled People face and how these measures are embedded to ensure choice and control for Disabled People. Nothing about us without us
DPO Network meeting with Minister Higgins
Members of the DPO Network met with Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for Disability Emer Higgins TD on Wednesday 18th. In the meeting, the DPO Network delegation raised issues about the Cost of Disability, building best practice on making meetings inclusive and accessible and the resourcing of DPOs.
The Minister and officials were presented with the DPO Network position paper “Blueprint for Co-Creation” which the Minister will bring to the next cabinet meeting.
This position paper can be downloaded from the DPO Network website as a PDF and Word version and an ISL version is also available:
Dublin DPO Launch – Be There!
We’re celebrating the launch of the Dublin Disabled Persons Organisation with Dublin’s Lord Mayor!
Wednesday 25th Feb
11am – 1pm
Mansion House, Dublin
Everyone welcome disabled people, family, friends, allies and community groups! Refreshments, mingling, and a historic moment for disability advocacy.
Spaces are limited (approx. 70) secure your spot now: info@ilmi.ie
ILMI Elevenses
A Social Space for Disabled People
Our next Elevenses meeting will take place on Tuesday 3rd of March.
Email shellygaynor@ilmi.ie for the Zoom link.
