The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
A local disability activist has expressed disappointment Budget 2025 fails to address the structural changes required to support disabled people in Clare to live independently. Ann Marie Flanagan, co-founder of Equality Not Care, says it is time to prioritise rights, dignity, and autonomy for disabled people, rather than perpetuating a “narrative of dependency”. The Budget introduced several measures aimed at supporting disabled people. These include once-off grants to help with additional costs associated with the rising costs of living, a €12 increase in the disability allowance, as well as other provisions such as fuel allowances and energy bills for those who are the named bill payer. While these measures will certainly offer some relief, particularly for those facing the escalating cost of living, Ms Flanagan believes they fall short of addressing the broader and more systemic issues disabled people face in Ireland. One of her key criticisms is that the government has once again failed to implement the recommendations of …
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