I just want to thank the 250 people from all over the country who recently came out and supported the Vision Impaired Service Providers’ Alliance (Vispa) march on the Dáil. A letter was handed in to the Taoiseach on behalf of the 224,000 people who suffer from sight loss in Ireland. Vispa also called on the Government to ensure that service providers for people with sight loss suffer no further cuts to their budgets.
One of the reasons we organised the march was because of the cut to the blind pension last year, and the simple fact that people with sight loss simply cannot be penalised again in the upcoming budget.
Vispa comprises the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), Fighting Blindness, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and St Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired.
The Programme for Government stated that its goal is to ensure that the quality of life of people with disabilities is enhanced and that resources allocated reach the people who need them. We are challenging the Government to engage with us to make sure that this happens.
With over 200,000 people suffering with sight loss, we believe this is a voice that cannot be ignored. The fact that so many people came from all over the country to march shows that this is vital.
So again, I wish to thank everyone who has participated and hope for ongoing support in our campaign.
Des Kenny
Chairman, Vispa
