The National Parents’ Society of People with Disability commends the various proposals in the 2015 Budget. Never have disabled people featured so prominently in a budget. For many years these proposals have been shelved or given little priority in spite of the many pleas put forward by the NPSPD and similar organisations.

We appreciate the enforcement of the law that at least two per cent of employees in any establishment should be disabled. Many parents would like to be assured that a regulating body will be regularly assessing and monitoring these jobs to ensure compatibility and eliminate abuse.

We welcome the promise of 10 new residential homes in this legislature. According to the last census, there are currently at least 3,200 persons with a long term physical disability and about 800 with intellectual disability within the age bracket 30 to 59. Although this proposal is a good start to address the acute shortage of such homes, we question whether it will be enough to satisfy demand.

We look forward to the introduction of special protective tax-exempted trusts and foundations. We will appreciate if more information and details are given as early as possible.

The retention of the disability pension irrespective of how much one earns through employment is also very welcome. However, this should be extended to disabled persons who, due to their limitations, cannot be regularly employed but have a regular income through a trust or other sources set up by their parents.

Although this Budget has addressed many important shortcomings, the needs of the disabled have been neglected for so long that much more remains to be done. Many sectors still do not comply with the directives of the United Nations Convention ratified in 2012. Some examples which we feel have not been addressed in this Budget are:

An increase in the disability pension. Many disabled persons have to depend on fund raising and charity for their daily living requirements. A lack of social and community parti-cipation. Funds should be provided to local councils to address this shortcoming. Life-long learning opportunities should be provided to the medium/severe disabled. Physical and architectural barriers are causing a lack of accessibility, while adequate day centres for the disabled are needed.