National Deaf Advocacy Service restored

Friday, 18 July 2014

Press Release

The Irish Deaf Society (IDS) welcomes the decision made by the new Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly to restore funding to Health, Disability and other organisations including the IDS for a twelve month period until July 2015.

The decision allows the IDS to reopen its National Deaf Advocacy Service which works to provide access for Deaf people to education, employment, health and general public information and services. Their advocacy service had been forced to close three weeks ago following the initial announcement that their funding would be discontinued following the announcement 30th June.

The 12 month long funding allocation will keep services running while a sustainable long-term solution to the funding problem is sought.

Commenting on the decision, IDS CEO Eddie Redmond stated, “The announcement comes as a relief to thousands of disadvantaged Deaf people who have come to depend on the Deaforward Advocacy Service for support in areas covering basic needs like phone calls for bills, to larger issues like discrimination in accessing public services or in seeking mental health support for which there are none for Deaf people in Ireland. For many Deaf people the advocacy service is an essential part of their lives”.

He added, “We would like to extend huge gratitude to our nominee to the Seanad Senator Mark Daly, and TD Joe Costello, with whose support we don’t believe we would be in the position we are today.”