Louth and Meath County Councils are both to receive funding from the national Disability Participation and Awareness Fund 2021 it was announced yesterday.
Funding has been offered for projects across all 31 Local Authorities to promote community participation and integration for people with disabilities, and raise awareness of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The purpose of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund, which was established by Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, T.D., in Budget 2021, is to support the participation of people with disabilities in local activities, to help remove barriers to community involvement and to support the promotion and implementation of the UNCRPD.
No details of the local projects to benefit from this funding have as yet been divulged but it is at least good to know that the money is there.
Under the scheme the projects must:
- promote the rights of people with disabilities
- assist in removing barriers to participation in local and community life
- raise awareness of the UNCRPD within communities and local authority staff and elected members
Further funding calls will issue in 2022, and the scheme parameters will be adjusted based on the learning arising from the initial call this year.
Targeting community groups directly next year, the Minister hopes to build on the momentum established in 2021 and seeks to focus on further supports for community participation and integration.
Minister Rabbitte said:”… I know that there was huge interest in this Fund and that speaks to the need for practical and effective measures to support the integration of persons with disabilities into our daily community life.
