North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to take action to address the funding cuts to equipment for deaf people made by local authorities.
Raising the matter with the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant AM, in the Assembly Chamber yesterday, Mr Isherwood condemned the cuts and stressed that providing adaptations and equipment does in fact save money.
He said:
“I’ll just declare that close family members have received local authority funded adaptations to their homes, and it’s enabled independent living and it’s actually reduced costs on statutory services.
“In the context of the budget cuts to equipment for deaf people made by some local authorities, and some even indicating they’re moving away from funding equipment despite the fact it does actually save funding for statutory services, what guidance does or will the Welsh Government issue to local authorities on what adaptations or equipment they should be providing as a minimum?”
The Secretary said there is already guidance issued to authorities, but said he would “have a conversation with my ministerial colleague on this very specific issue.”
ENDS