"(By Mark Dunphy 21.05.08) Minister of State and
Clare T.D., Mr Tony Killeen said that the Government
remained committed to assisting older people or people
with a disability to remain in their own homes.
His comment follows the allocation of EUR1,308,060 to
Clare Local Authorities under the Housing Adaptation
Grants Scheme for 2008.
Minister Killeen described it as a worthwhile scheme
as it provided invaluable assistance to older people and
people with a disability living in private houses.
He said it helped them to continue to live in their
own communities with the dignity that they deserved.
According to the Junior Agriculture Minister, "The
substantial increase in the grant levels and the
targeting of resources to those most in need will ensure
that the grants will continue to address the housing
needs of a number of vulnerable sections of our
community".
"It is also very encouraging to hear that the
allocations to Clare Local Authorities in 2007 in respect
of these Schemes has been expended in full", Minister
Killeen stated.
Mr. Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister for Housing,
Urban Renewal and Developing Areas, this week announced
EUR71.405 million under the Adaptation Grants scheme.
It is estimated that a further EUR12m will be spent on
works of adaptation to make local authority rented houses
more suitable for a disabled member of the household,
bringing the total expenditure in the area to EUR83.4
million.
Expenditure under the Adaptation Grant Schemes for
Older People and People with a Disability and the Special
Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme, during the lifetime
of this Government, from 1997 to 2007, has totalled
almost EUR652 million with more than 120,000 grants
paid.
Source: http://www.live-pr.com/
(Laussane, AP) Double-amputee sprinter Oscar
Pistorius won his appeal Friday and can compete for a
place in the Beijing Olympics.
"It's a great day for sport. I think this day is going
to go down in history for the equality of disabled
people" (Oscar Pistorius)
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the
21-year-old South African is eligible to race against
able-bodied athletes, overturning a ban imposed by the
International Association of Athletics Federations.
CAS said the unanimous ruling goes into effect
immediately.
"I am ecstatic," Pistorius told reporters in Milan,
Italy. "When I found out, I cried. It is a battle that
has been going on for far too long. It's a great day for
sport. I think this day is going to go down in history
for the equality of disabled people."
Pistorius still must reach a qualifying time to run in
the individual 400 meters at the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Games.
However, he can be picked for the South African relay
squad without qualifying. That relay squad has not yet
qualified for the Olympics.
Pistorius appealed to CAS, world sport's highest
tribunal, to overturn a Jan. 14 ruling by the IAAF that
banned him from competing. The IAAF said his carbon fiber
blades give him a mechanical advantage.
A two-day hearing was held before a panel of three
arbitrators at CAS headquarters last month. Pistorius now
is expected to get invitations from track and field
promoters across the world who want him to run at their
meets before Beijing.
Pistorius said he will be running in both able-bodied
and Paralympic events before Beijing. His manager, Peet
van Zyl, said the runner will compete in Milan on July 2
and the Golden Gala meet in Rome on July 11.
"Oscar will be welcomed wherever he competes this
summer," IAAF president Lamine Diack said in a statement.
"He is an inspirational man and we look forward to
admiring his achievements in the future."
The International Olympic Committee welcomed the
verdict.
"Oscar Pistorius is a determined and gutsy athlete who
will now no doubt put all his energy into reaching the
qualification standards for the Olympic Games," the IOC
said in a statement. "If he makes it we would be
delighted to welcome him."
Pistorius holds the 400-meter Paralympic world record
of 46.56 seconds, but that time is outside the Olympic
qualifying standard of 45.55. He has said his training
has been disrupted by the appeal process.
Even if Pistorius fails to get the qualifying time,
South African selectors could add the University of
Pretoria student to the Olympic 1,600-meter relay
squad.
Pistorius would not require a qualifying time and
could be taken to Beijing as an alternate. Six runners
can be picked for the relay squad. Pistorius also expects
to compete in Beijing at the Sept. 6-17 Paralympic
Games.
The verdict also clears Pistorius to dedicate himself
to qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics.
"A lot of the time we've had this year we've devoted
to the court case," Pistorius said. "Now when I get home,
my time can be dedicated to training. I am going to have
to start thinking about getting my body in shape in order
to run those [qualifying] times. I am hopeful
there will be enough time but it is going to be very
difficult.
"We have the opportunity once again to chase my dream
of participating in an Olympics, if not in 2008 then in
2012."
The IAAF based its January decision on studies by
German professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who said the
J-shaped "Cheetah" blades were energy efficient.
Pistorius' lawyers countered with independent tests
conducted by a team led by MIT professor Hugh M. Herr
that claimed to show he doesn't gain any advantage over
able-bodied runners.
CAS said the IAAF failed to prove that Pistorius'
running blades give him an advantage.
"The panel was not persuaded that there was sufficient
evidence of any metabolic advantage in favor of a
double-amputee using the Cheetah Flex-Foot," CAS said.
"Furthermore, the CAS panel has considered that the IAAF
did not prove that the biomechanical effects of using
this particular prosthetic device gives Oscar Pistorius
an advantage over other athletes not using the
device."
Pistorius was born without fibulas -- the long, thin
outer bone between the knee and ankle -- and was 11
months old when his legs were amputated below the
knee.
Pistorius' lawyer was thrilled by the verdict.
"He simply has the chance now to compete fairly and
equally," Jeffrey Kessler told The Associated Press. "We
are particularly pleased that the decision is
unanimous."
Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/
