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Minister for Disabilities Finian McGrath TD, today (Saturday) welcomed the work carried out by the many champions among people with disabilities and their families across Ireland as he opened the plenary session of the Inclusion Ireland Conference.

Minister McGrath said, “In my many years campaigning for people with disabilities and particularly in my short time in Office, I have been very encouraged to see the many people and organisations nationwide that are immersing themselves wholeheartedly in the disability transformation programme. The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.”

The Minister highlighted the additional funding of €31 million announced this week which will support the Programme for Government commitment to ensuring that all 18-year-old school leavers with disabilities have access to supports and services which meet their needs.

“What those attending the Inclusion Ireland conference know, but which wider society sometimes forget, is that people with a disability have personal ambitions and needs like everyone else in society. Throughout their lives, people with disabilities should be supported in maximising their potential, by removing barriers which impact on access to services, education, work or healthcare. We will improve services and increase supports for people with disabilities, with a particular focus on supports at key transition points such as going to school, progressing to further training or education, or moving into a new home.”

Minister McGrath also thanked Inclusion Ireland for organising a thought-provoking and timely conference on many of the issues of concern to the disability sector.