The political crisis in Northern Ireland is causing avoidable harm to disabled people: the austerity budget imposed on Northern Ireland by the UK Government in response to its lack of government has resulted in services and funding for disabled people being slashed.

The decision to cut the core grant provided to 62 organisations by the Department of Health will result in the loss of services with severe impacts on disabled people and organisational sustainability in the future.

Disability Action alongside 61 health related organisations will no longer receive core grant funding from the Department of Health from 30^th of September 2023.  As a result Disability Action will no longer be providing essential front-line regional information and advice services currently relied upon by thousands of disabled people.  The ending of funding by the Department of Health through the core grant also brings to an end important public engagement and representative work which the organisation has delivered in partnership with the Department for more than twenty years.

The decision to end the core grant has been taken forward by the Department of Health in the context of the ongoing political and funding crisis and the austerity budget imposed on Northern Ireland by the UK Government.  The lack of functioning political institutions has resulted in a governance and accountability gap with severe impacts severe impacts on disabled people and significant impacts on service delivery at time in which we are experiencing a cost of living, health, housing and public services emergency.

Disability Action are calling on the Department of Health to reverse the decision and maintain essential services.

Disability Action are calling on all political parties to show collective leadership and to immediately restore the Executive and Assembly for the good of all the people of Northern Ireland.

Speaking on the decision to end services and representation, Nuala Toman, Head of Policy at Disability Action said:

“This is a sad day for disabled people and Disability Action.  We deeply regret that we can no longer deliver information and advice services which thousands of disabled people are reliant upon.  The current political and economic crisis is having a devastating impact on disabled people.  Disability Action have no other option than to end vital frontline services at a time in which demand is soaring.  We would ask that the Department to reverse the decision to end core grant funding to 62 organisations including Disability Action.  We would ask that all political parties demonstrate collective leadership and immediately restore the Executive and Assembly for the good of all the people of Northern Ireland.  Public services are being decimated at an alarming rate and urgent and long overdue action is required before it is too late. The decimation of public and voluntary services leaves us all at risk of avoidable harm at a time in which the very fabric of our society is falling apart!”