Wheelchair group set for €500,000 cut

THE IRISH Wheelchair Association says it believes its budget may be cut by €500,000 next year.

THE IRISH Wheelchair Association says it believes its budget may be cut by €500,000 next year.

Speaking as the charity announced details of its 2008 "angel day", a fundraising day taking place this Friday, its chief executive Kathleen McLoughlin said the HSE had not yet finalised next year's budget for the association.

"But we are expecting a cut in the region of 1 per cent plus. It costs €50 million a year currently to run the organisation." The Angel Day will see pins and pencils sold in retail outlets and by on-street sellers throughout the State.

"This year is more important than ever," said Ms McLoughlin. "We have 20,000 members and we help anyone with mobility problems, whether they are on crutches, in a wheelchair or perhaps they might have had a stroke.

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"Our biggest service is our assisted living service, that is help with living in the home or out and about. Then, there is our day service and we have 68 centres around the State where people come for the day, whether for education or to socialise."

The association's priority is to enable and equip people to live independently. It also provides advice, assessment and tuition, youth services, respite and holidays, peer counselling and sport.

Ms McLoughlin stressed the HSE had been "very good" to the association but said "it's not going to be pretty next year" and the "nightmare scenario is that we will have to cut back services".

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland is Social Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times