Ireland is an embarrassment on child disability services, girl to tell Dáil protest

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

A 14-year-old activist will tell a protest at Leinster House on Thursday that Ireland is “an international embarrassment” on child disability issues.

Cara Darmody, a disability rights campaigner from Ardfinnan in Co Tipperary, is the older sister of Neil (11) and John (7), who are autistic and non-verbal.

She has met with the last three taoisigh to discuss disability services in Ireland, and told Simon Harris at a meeting in June that the Government was “breaking the law” on its obligation to children with special needs.

Parents have voiced their frustration and upset at not being able to access crucial assessments of need, therapies and school places for their children.

Protests have been held outside the Department of Education demanding school places be secured for children with special needs, who are forced out of routines that are vital for their education and wellbeing.

Ms Darmody is pledging to continue to protest outside the Dail for two hours every Wednesday from noon, until she feels real action is taken on improving access to crucial services for children with special needs.

Among the issues being focused on is for the Government to sign up to the United Nations Optional Protocol, which would give people with disabilities stronger legal rights.

Ms Darmody is expected to tell a “monster meeting” rally at Leinster House, to be held at 11am on Thursday, that childhoods are being stolen because of Government inaction.

She is expected to tell the demonstration that the Government “has had it good” as it has not yet “suffered international embarrassment from their disgraceful” treatment of children with disabilities.

She will add that she will try to bring global attention to Ireland’s treatment of children with disabilities, through both the European Parliament and the United Nations, in a campaign similar to that of climate activist Greta Thunberg.

“In my opinion, only when international reputational damage is potentially caused will their minds suddenly be focused on this issue,” she is to say.

She will also meet opposition politicians to brief them on what issues to question the government about, as part of a new approach to push for action on the rights of children with disabilities.

Cara’s father, Mark, said the determined teen has taken the family “on the most incredible journey”.

“It’s stuff you could never dream about. We’re very humble people, we don’t do celebrity or fame or anything.

“But there are moments where, even when she told the Taoiseach “but you’re breaking the law”, and he was silent, and he didn’t know what to say, you’re looking at her thinking ‘Wow, that’s my daughter’.

“She just said it in the nicest way possible, and he likes her. You can see that he absolutely likes her.

“It’s very hard not to be proud of her.”

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: “The Taoiseach has had very positive engagement with Cara over recent months.

“Upon taking office, the Taoiseach established a Cabinet committee on disability to address these issues and make progress. As the Taoiseach told Cara at their recent meeting, this would take time but he is absolutely committed to making the necessary progress.”

The Taoiseach, who is in New York this week attending the UN General Assembly, also mentioned Cara’s work and advocacy in comments to the media.