Euro news – MEPs see how cutbacks hurt Spina Bifida sufferers

A MAN living with Spina Bifida told MEPs at the European Parliament this week that fellow sufferers are 'struggling to feed themselves' and are increasingly isolated by cutbacks to services. Frank Larkin (41), the Vice-President of the Donegal Branch of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, gave a paper on the challenges of growing older with the condition. Speaking on World Spina Bifida Day, he highlighted the effects of the dire lack of services and the cuts to personal assistant hours on people who 'just want to live normal lives'. 'Public transport is one very small example. I have a free bus pass, but how do I get on the bus? If I wanted to go from Donegal to Dublin, even if I gave Bus Eireann a week's notice, they won't provide me with that service,' said Mr Larkin. He said one MEP he had spoken to thought people with Spina Bifida died in their 30s. 'If the politicians who develop policies have that mindset, how are we going to get a proper strategy to help people live their lives? More people with Spina Bifida are living longer, but there are no strategies in place to deal with the difficulties that brings,' he added. More rights for passengers TRAVELLERS by train, coach or ferry will soon be entitled to the same kind of compensation and entitlements currently enjoyed by air passengers, under new legislation voted through at the European Parliament this week. MEPs in Strasbourg have backed a package of proposals aimed at strengthening the rights of passengers who encounter difficulties such as cancelled services, long delays, or special needs such as limited mobility. Fine Gael MEP for the Northwest, Jim Higgins, a member of the Parliament's Transport Committee, says the measures will ensure a uniform compensation policy across all modes of transport.