New Developments in Independent Living in Ireland

While each Irish Centre for Independent Living (CIL) has its own independence and identity, it also benefits from being part of a larger movement. The CIL Network allows space for decision makers and consumers within CILs to come together outside of project work, sharing knowledge/expertise and discussing general concerns and direction. The CIL Network meets four times a year and many issues emerge from these meetings, such as the development of Direct Payment schemes in Ireland.

Direct Payments

What is a Direct Payment?

For many disabled people the key to an independent lifestyle revolves around 'Direct Payments'. A Direct Payment is funding paid to individuals to enable them to employ, either directly or indirectly, individuals to assist them with their everyday tasks. This support may include:

• personal services; help with getting up, using the toilet, bathing, dressing, eating etc,
• domestic services; cleaning, washing, shopping, looking after children etc,
• social services: help with work, visiting friends, going to the cinema, going to the pub and other leisure activities.

Direct Payments can also be used to buy technical aids and equipment. In short, unlike other traditional professionally led support, Direct Payment-type schemes provide the disabled person with optimum control over the support needed to live independently within the community.

By giving the disabled person greater choice and control, Direct Payment schemes:

• enhance the disabled person's self-esteem and self-confidence,
• allow and encourage the development of more innovative, flexible and personalised support systems and services,
• alleviate the pressure on family members and other 'informal carers' who are often held responsible for supporting disabled individuals in the community,
• provide the disabled individual with more opportunities to participate fully in the economic and social life of the community.

When properly implemented, Direct Payment services improve significantly the quality of life of the disabled individual, their families and the community as a whole.

It was recognised that for disabled people to use Direct Payments effectively, appropriate support services are needed. This may include support with advertising, recruitment, wages, management skills, employment law etc. These support services are extremely important as many people with disabilities may have limited experience of employment, and so employing a Personal Assistant may be especially daunting.

Direct service provision operates in a number of European countries including the UK, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Holland and Germany.