Calls for an emergency fund to help tackle fuel poverty

Joan Carthy (above) is running as an Independent Candidate in the upcoming Seanad Election and is hoping to bring the voice of people living with a disability to the Seanad and into Government Policy.

Currently working as Advocacy Manager with Irish Wheelchair Association, Joan's bid for the Seanad has been backed by Irish Wheelchair Association and a coalition of another nine representative organisations from the charity and services sector.

Joan is passionate that there needs to be a strong voice to represent people with disabilities, not only in the disability space but across all avenues of life.

“People with disabilities are much more than their disability, they are people who want to live life to the fullest of their ability in a country that does not put physical or attitudinal barriers in their way” she said.

Joan herself is disabled person, a wife, and a mother. She sustained a spinal cord injury at the age of 21 in a road traffic accident in 1990. Since then, she has been a full-time wheelchair user and a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

With the current heating allowance set at just €33 a week, Carthy highlights that individuals with disabilities are particularly susceptible to the high costs of heating, which is inflated during extreme weather conditions. She emphasises the urgent need for additional support to ensure that those at risk do not have to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table.

Carthy stated, “People with disabilities struggle all year round with the extra cost of disability, and heating is a major factor. I am calling on the Government to put an emergency fund in place that people with disabilities and others at risk can access during this weather crisis.”

She continued, “Weather crises are becoming more frequent, and it is crucial that we have measures in place to support those in need and prevent them from facing additional financial stress or compromising their health due to lack of heating.”