800,000 Minds Matter

Call for investment in services for

800,000 Irish people living with
neurological conditions

NAI Election Manifesto 2016

Lets get one thing clear:

rehabilitation is an essential
front line part of any developed
healthcare system. There is
a glaring gap between the
rehabilitation funding of our own
health system and those across
Europe.
Person with a neurological condition and advocate.

The Neurological Alliance of Ireland is the umbrella body

representing over 30 neurological charities. We are calling on
political parties to commit to addressing the needs of 800,000
Irish people with neurological conditions and their families
through targeted investment in neurology and neurorehabilitation
services and protecting funding to vital voluntary sector supports
for people with neurological conditions and their families.
1. A targeted funding programme to address understaffing and
other serious deficits across neurology services
2. A three year programme of investment to develop regional
inpatient units and community neurorehabilitation
teams in line with the recommendations of the National
Neurorehabilitation Strategy 1
3. Action to protect vital supports provided by neurological
charities to people with neurological conditions and their
families. Every neurological charity that applied was turned
down for funding under the SSNO scheme 2 in 2014.
Temporary bridging funding comes to an end in June 2016 and
the people who rely on these services have no guarantee that
they will have a service after next June.

1
2

Department of Health (2011) National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011-2015
Scheme to Support National Organisations run by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

The fact that each and every

one of the twelve neurological
charities which applied for the
SSNO scheme in 2014 were
turned down and that these
vital services are threatened
shows just how little priority
is being given to 800,000 Irish
people living with neurological
conditions
Professor Orla Hardiman: Professor Of Neurology,
Trinity College Dublin

My charity
is my only
source of
support for my
neurological
condition and
now they are
looking to cut
even that

Neurological Conditions affect over 800,000 Irish people

and include conditions such as stroke, acquired brain injury,
Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis epilepsy, migraine and
dementia as well as rare and genetic conditions.

Person with a neurological

condition

People with neurological conditions and their families who rely on

vital counselling, home support and advocacy services provided
by neurological charities have no guarantee those services will
be available beyond June 2016 when temporary bridging funding
comes to an end. This is no way to fund critical supports.

Irelands neurological care services are critically underdeveloped

which means that thousands of people nationwide face a constant
struggle to get the level and type of care they need.
NAIs 2015 national survey of neurology centres highlighted
serious deficits across neurology services, including significant
understaffing, which leads to unacceptably long waiting times and
impacts directly on people with neurological conditions and their
families.
The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy 2011-2015 has not been
implemented, leaving thousands of people with neurological
conditions without the type of rehabilitation services that would be
taken for granted in other developed countries.

800,000 Minds Matter:

What can you do to help?
Visit our campaign centre nai.ie/go/campaign_centre to see how
you can support our election campaign.
List of NAI Member
Organisations

If you are a person with a neurological condition, family member

or otherwise interested in supporting the campaign

Acquired Brain injury Ireland

Aphasia Ireland
Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Aware
Bloomfield Health Services
Cheshire Ireland
Chronic Pain Ireland
Dystonia Ireland
Enable Ireland
Epilepsy Ireland
Friedreichs Ataxia Society of Ireland
Headway
Huntingtons Disease Association
of Ireland
Irish Heart Foundation
Irish Hospice Foundation
Irish Motor Neurone Disease
Association
Migraine Association of Ireland
Move4Parkinsons
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland
Neurofibromatosis Association
of Ireland
North West MS Therapy Centre
Parkinsons Association of Ireland
Post Polio Support group
Syringomyelia Support group
of Ireland
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland
The Rehab Group

1. Visit our campaign centre nai.ie/go/campaign_centre to find

out how you can support our campaign.

Associate Members
Brain Tumour Ireland
PSPA Ireland
Irish Association of Speech and
Language Therapists
Myaware

2. Download the postcard from our campaign centre which

you can give to canvassers who call to your home or bring to
your local constituency office. It calls on election candidates
to pledge their support for issues affecting people with
neurological conditions and their families.
3. Support our campaign on Twitter which will target election
candidates to sign our pledge #800,000minds.
If you are an elected representative sign our campaign pledge
nai.ie/go/campaign_centre
A list of candidates who have pledged will be posted on the NAI
website and social media.
About the Neurological Alliance of Ireland
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland is the national umbrella of
charities representing people with neurological conditions and
their families. We work to promote the development of services
and supports for all those affected by neurological conditions
through advocacy & awareness raising, policy development and
supporting research.
Neurological Alliance of Ireland
Coleraine House
Coleraine Street
Dublin 7
Tel: 01 8724120
E mail: naiireland@eircom.net
Web: www.nai.ie
Charity Number: CHY: 14889