Support directed by the person
Walshe called for a shared definition of personal assistance, a separate budget, consistent needs assessments and legislation guaranteeing access. ILMI also wanted people to be able to move between regions for work, education or social reasons without losing support. Its PAS NOW campaign placed decisions about assistance with the disabled person. [1][3]
Research described uneven provision
Eamonn Carroll and Selina McCoy of the Economic and Social Research Institute presented findings from research undertaken in 2020 and 2021. Their evidence identified underfunding and differences across Ireland in assessments, funding arrangements and assistants’ working conditions. These variations affected both access to sufficient support and people’s ability to direct it.
The campaign continued after the hearing
In its July 2024 campaign update, ILMI reported involvement in work on a national definition and assessment framework. It insisted that the lived-experience group should include people who actually use personal assistance. The organisation continued to press for a system designed around self-determination, alongside better recruitment and retention of assistants. [3]