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To: Minister Simon Harris

Don't Axe Rehabilitative Training Allowance

Disabled Women Ireland want Rehabilitative training allowance of €31.80 per week to be retained for individuals starting Rehabilitative Training Courses in September 2019.

Why is this important?

School leavers and other adults with disabilities can attend Rehabilitative Training Courses run by the HSE or other specialist service providers. There are about 1,000 locations to do this training around the country. Rehabilitative Training Courses are courses to help develop life skills, social skills and basic work skills for people with disabilities. People who do these training courses usually have intellectual disabilities, complex physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, mental health difficulties or autism.

Each year, around 400 school leavers enroll in these training courses. Trainees attend these courses for two to four years and are supported to develop and review training plans in line with their needs and abilities. Rehabilitative training is intended to help participants progress to greater levels of independence and integration in their community. It may help in transitioning to mainstream post-school education and training or to specialist vocational training.

Participants who satisfy the relevant social welfare criteria may be eligible for a weekly Disability Allowance as well as a special training allowance, which is currently €31.80 per week. However, Minister Simon Harris and the HSE have decided to axe this extra training allowance of €31.80 per week for all school leavers who start a Rehabilitative Training Course in September 2019. In addition, The HSE, which has a deficit of €116 million, has warned that it may have to curtail funding to disability services.

1. Disability Women Ireland want the training allowance of €31.80 per week to be retained for individuals starting Rehabilitative Training Courses in September 2019.
2. Disability Women Ireland want to stop this threat to the funding of Rehabilitative Training Services. This training is extremely valuable to disabled people giving them skills, independence and the ability to contribute to Irish society.

The Mission of Disabled Women Ireland is (DWI) is to be a National voice for the needs and rights of women, trans and non-binary people with disabilities and a National force to improve the lives and life chances of people with disabilities.
“Equality for women, and equality for disabled people must work hand in hand if either is to be successful” — Disabled Women Ireland

https://www.disabledwomenireland.org/

https://www.facebook.com/DWIreland/

Updates

2019-07-26 20:59:17 +0100

100 signatures reached

2019-07-23 23:19:26 +0100

50 signatures reached

2019-07-23 18:26:55 +0100

25 signatures reached

2019-07-21 16:41:34 +0100

10 signatures reached