About Us
The National Council for People with Disabilities (NCPD) is the only national cross disability organisation which is independent of government, service providers and special interests. NCPD aims to continue some of the work of PWDI which was closed down by the government in December 2011.
National Council for People with Disabilities (NCPD) is totally separate to People with Disabilities in Ireland (PWDI), which is now closed. NCPD is also different to PWDI in many ways, as NCPD is independent of government funding and influence, and aims to put the needs of disabled people and carers at the centre of it's aims, objectives and activities, and has a broader scope than PWDI had. NCPD is here to represent the interests of disabled people and wants to help all people with disabilities to take part in and influence the decision making process that impacts on their lives and opportunities. Cross disability means that NCPD is for all people with disabilities, whether those disabilities are physical, emotional, intellectual or mental. We also want to include and welcome parents, partners, carers, advocates, groups of people with disabilities, and able bodied people with an interest in disability to join NCPD.
NCPD headquarters in Shannon, Clare. Each NCPD network will have their own web site and their own local policies, projects and initiatives, but will be linked to national headquarters and to other networks for the benefit of all disabled people throughout Ireland. NCPD has charitabe status
Charity number: 20227
Company number: 533165
Tax number: 3207504LH.
National Level Work
At national level, NCPD intends to work closely with government figures and with top civil servants and managers of public services on issues which have a direct impact on all disabled people such as Accessible transport, Accessible buildings, Social housing, Special needs education, FAS training, Employment, Advocacy for the disabled, etc.. NCPD listens to the needs and concerns of disabled people and seeks to directly influence government policies, initiatives, structures, laws and implementations so as to address these needs and improve the lives of disabled people.
Many of the new disability laws, new works and new initiatives by the government over the last 11 years have had PWDI input and involvement. And it is hoped that NCPD can continue PWDI's work in this regard. These include the Irish government's 6 Sectoral Plans for making public services, products, transport and buildings more accessible to disabled people, the Disability Act 2005, The Barcelona Declaration (1995) which is binding on local authorities, The Equal Status Acts (2000-2008), The Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2006, The Employment Equality Acts 1998-2008, The Mental Health Act (2001), EPSEN (Equcation for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act) 2004. NCPD will work with disabled people and the Irish Government and civil servants to implement these Sectoral Plans and laws and to continue making progress and improving the lives and opportunities of all disabled people.
The NCPD national board and national organisation is seeking representation or has got representation on the following bodies so as work in partnership with government and civil servants in implementing these plans and laws :
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources - Implementation of Sectoral Plan
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment - Implementation of Sectoral Plan
Department of Health and Children - Implementation of Sectoral Plan
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government - Implementation of Sectoral Plan
Department of Social Protection - Implementation of Sectoral Plan
Department of Transport - Implementation of Sectoral Plan
Department of Justice and Department of the Taoiseach - Ratification (by Dail) and Implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2008
Local Level Work
Galway NCPD coordinates the work of NCPD headquarters at local level, and provides representation for disabled people on local public bodies, and advice, assistance, advocacy and information for disabled people in Galway. We also take note of the needs and special requirements of disabled people in Galway, and try to address these through our representation and work on local government bodies, including city council and county councils and town boroughs, state bodies, semi-state bodies, community bodies, and public organisations.
We bring the concerns of disabled people in Galway to the national stage, via Motions we propose for the national AGM's of NCPD. These Motions will be acted upon and involve NCPD personnel meeting and working in partnership and cooperation with government ministers, senior civil servants, TD's, executives of state bodies and local authorities.We also make contributions to Government White Papers on proposed laws, changes to laws and amendments and pre-Budget submissions which affect the lives of all disabled people.
NCPD in Galway is seeking representation or has got representation on the following bodies so as to represent and work for the interests of all disabled people on these bodies
- Access for All group (Access commitee of Galway City council)
- Access committee of Galway County Council
- Galway City Partnership
- Social Housing, Galway City council
- Social Housing, Galway County Council
- Galway City Forum
- The Joint-Policing committee for Galway
- Galway airport
- Galway Bus
- Rural bus service for Connemara, named Bealach
- Rural bus service in north east Galway
- Rural bus service in south Galway
- Regional Board of FAS
- Board of HSE West
- HIQUA & HSE committee overseeing residential institutions for disabled people
- Board of VEC
- Consultation group for Centre for Disability Law and Policy in NUI Galway
The Challenges faced by Disabled people and Disability Organisaitons
The Irish government and Dail Eireann should ratify the UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities as soon as possible. This would provide some fundamental rights for disabled people and give them fuller inclusion and participation in Irish society.
‘ Ireland must ratify UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities’
Irish Times newspaper, March 30, 2015
Ireland’s Human Rights and Equality Commission told the United Nations in July 2014, that austerity has ‘weakened’ the human rights of Ireland’s most vulnerable. It included cuts against the disabled people, lack of investment in services and supports, and the diminishing of their rights in this report. Read Austerity has ‘weakened’ the human rights of Ireland’s most vulnerable
We have detailed some of the requirements and provisions of this UN Convention below, and how Ireland is failing in these and in disability rights.
The following news report from RTE and other news sources on September 3rd, 4th and 5th 2012 shows the difficulties disabled people face now and in the future. And the need for organisations and people to work together and stand together to protect the interests and living standards and opportunities (for social and economic advancement) of disabled people. Click on links below to view video in frame below.
Disabled People protesting outside Irish parliament against cuts September 2012 (Video 2)
Disabled People protesting outside Irish parliament against cuts September 2012 (Video 3)
Disabled People protesting outside Irish parliament against cuts September 2012 (Video 4)
Making a Difference - Working Together for a Different World
One's community, country, economic region, world is capable of many possibilities and potentialities, many forms of economic, political and social organisation - negative or positive, constructive or destructive, uplifting and giving or parasitical and divisive. The human ability to progress, to move forward, to build better systems for the benefit of all (including disabled people) is unlimited and largely untapped, but it is up to all of us. People are not the slaves of dictators in their many forms, many supposedly "bankrupt countries" are not bankrupt, the world is not bankrupt but overflowing with abundance for all. There are ample resources, finance, credit, energy, land, property, skills, organisations etc. in place to enable every person to thrive, to flourish and achieve their potential in life. Each of us volunteering and making changes and engaging with political processes and economic processes will help us all move towards this realisation. The following video made in the 20th century expresses this sentiment Click here to view this video in the box belowSource: The Great Dictator, United Artists, 1940