Nurses' union calls on public to join Dáil protest today
Members of the public are being asked to join a lunchtime protest outside the Dáil later, calling for proper staffing for intellectual disability services.
The Budget for frontline services has been cut by almost 10% in recent years, causing a 15% reduction in specialist staff.
Liam Doran, general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, said that today's protest is just the start of a campaign for adequate services to be restored.
"We have to engage with service providers across the country," he said.
"We have to engage with service users and their families, we have to engage with Hiqa, we have to continue to engage and highlight where staffing cuts are harming.
"And we have to ensure the full utilisation of the key profession in this area, the registered nurse in intellectual disability, which is the expert professional qualification for intellectual disability.
"So a lot of work has got to be done - it starts today."
