Protest taking place in Cork today calling for increased funding for autism and disability services 

A pre-budget protest to demand an end to the underfunding of autism and disability services is to be held in Cork today.

The sensory-friendly protest is titled ‘End State Neglect Of Autism and Disability Services’ and will be held at 3pm on the Grand Parade.

Invited speakers include representatives of St Killian’s Parents Unite, Families United For Support and Solidarity (FUSS), and disability rights campaigner Luna Fleming.

The protest organisers are calling for a number of measures in Budget 2025, including that assessment of need be carried out within six months for all age groups from the date of an application, more therapists in schools and communities, scrapping the means test for disability payments and carers, “decent pay” for all in the sector, and ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Speaking ahead of the event, Luna Fleming encouraged people to take part in the protest.

“I will be speaking, and we will be campaigning for better services for everyone in this country with autism and additional needs,” they said.

Rebecca O’Riordan of FUSS told The Echo: “This budget, we don’t want tokenism, we want sustainable and reliable funding.

“We keep hearing that the Government are committed to making this the best country in the world to be a child, yet continue to fail children with disabilities and block out what advocates are repeatedly telling them: Progressing disabilities has failed.

“We need a review of what’s working and what’s not, that’s led by those who know the system.”

Solidarity-People Before Profit TD for Cork North Central Mick Barry said that the budget must address the “massive underfunding of autism and disability services”, describing the current wait time for assessment of needs in Cork for autistic children as “outrageous”.