Students gathered outside Leinster House today to protest the government’s decision to scrap a scheme that helped people with disabilities pursue post-secondary school training.
The rehabilitative training allowance, which is funded by the HSE, offered 2,300 students an allowance of €31.80 every week to help with the costs of attending the training. The government plans to phase it out at the beginning of September.
Speaking to The University Times, Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union President Laura Beston said: “We completely support the actions of those students protesting outside the Dail. It’s something that the SU are very conscious of making sure that we support students in regaining the rehabilitative training allowance.”
“It is important that we are taking steps to fiscally support students when they have other barriers in place. This is something that needs to be fought for and maintained”, she added.
In a press statement, Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon said: “Phasing out this weekly payment of €31.80 per week will take away independence from many. This weekly payment, often used by clients to meet any associated costs of attending day services, will be missed by recipients who have budgeted for it.”
“When I asked the Taoiseach to look into this problem”, he added, “he informed me he was ‘not aware of it, I will have it checked out’ which reveals a lot about his approach to the health sector”.
“I would urge the government to look again at this payment with a view to its retention.”
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Kathleen O’Meara, the Director of Communications, Public Affairs and Fundraising with Rehab Group, appealed to the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and the HSE to “reinstate this vital payment as a matter of urgency”.
“This small allowance facilitates young students to pay for travel and basic sustenance to attend training courses that can be far from their homes, particularly in rural Ireland.”
“The value of the allowance is €31.80 per student per week so the overall saving to Government would be minimal and yet it is a vital lifeline to those who need specialist supports to access further education or to enter the workforce”, she added.
