The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI), which acts as the representative body for over 150 disability groups, are calling on the government to provide a total of 208 million euro for disability funding in Budget 2008, scheduled for December.

In a release to the media, the DFI called on for an extra €40 per week for an estimtated 90,000 people with disabilities while also calling for an extra €20 million euro for member organisations that the DFI claims are underfunded.

The other five million euro asked for would be used to establish a Resource Support Centre for voluntary and non-profit organisations.

PJ Cleere, Support Officer with the DFI for the South East region told Waterford Today Newspaper that a diverse amount of funding is needed and that there is a need to establish clear budget lines for next year. He said: "Some of our budget submission is related to practices already initiated". Mr. Cleere also said that there is a core funding deficit in many organisations who are members of the Disability Federation.

In a speech in Dublin, DFI Chief Executive, John Dolan, released figures stating that many organisations including Down Syndrome Ireland and Aware, who achieved the vast majority of their funding by outside fundraising rather state assistance.

In response, the Minsiter for Social and Family Affairs, Martin Cullen told Waterford Today: "Well, the way it is put forward is a bit simplistic. There is a huge range of financial resources provided to people with disabilities right across the spectre. Obviously, I’d like to concentrate on building up those. Now, whether we need another type of payment, I’m not so sure. You may be giving with one hand and taking back with another. so I want to protect the sort of gains that have been made and add to as we have been going forward. I’ll be looking at issues like that come the budget".

South East Support Officer, PJ Cleere told Waterford Today Newspaper that there is a lack of services for disabilities at grassroots level. He said: "What we have is a situation were the HSE staff are doing their best with the situation but there is a huge lack of serivces on the ground."