Mayo student praised for her tenacity in having major barrier to postgraduate participation by students with disabilities removed
Mayo student Catherine Gallagher has confirmed the way is now clear for her to complete a PhD in journalism at DCU without having to forfeit her scholarship because she is a disability allowance recipient.
In a post on her Facebook page this morning, she confirmed she spoke last night to Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys.
Catherine outlined: "Her department is going to draft new regulations as a matter of urgency to remove the barrier for disabled people receiving scholarships.
"All going to plan, they will be signed next week. We, of course, wait to see the fine print of the new regulations, watch this space.
"I did not enjoy sharing this (issue) so publicly. I really didn't. But if the disabled community benefits in the way in which we hope to, won't it have been worth it."
On her page Catherine also shared the following tweet by Minister Humphreys:
Dara Ryder, chief executive officer of AHEAD Ireland, Creating Inclusive Environments in Education and Employment for People with Disabilities, tweeted: "Grateful to Minister Humphreys for fixing this problem. A major barrier to postgraduate participation is removed and so many will benefit.
"Hugh credit to Catherine Gallagher whose tenacity, clarity of message and purpose brought this to a head. A lesson for all of us in constructive advocacy."
Writing in the Irish Times yesterday before receiving confirmation of the proposed change in regulations, the 23-year-old Achill student explained: "If I were to accept the scholarship grant and lose my disability payment, I would be well below the poverty line.
"I cannot physically work on top of my studies. That is the reality. This is the penalty I am handed down for trying to better myself and to carve out a career. I am penalised for playing to my strengths.
"Everyone I spoke with told me to raise this with my local representatives. This required hours of calls, drafting letters, proofing them, emailing, following them up: you name it, I did it.
"This resulted in the matter being raised in the Dáil this week by the Sinn Féin spokesperson for higher education and research, Rose Conway-Walsh.
"She highlighted my case in particular but called on Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to address the issue as a whole. “It sounds like a mistake to me,” he said.
"It certainly does, but unfortunately I am not alone. This is a deeply systemic issue, and it is a significant barrier to education.
"I want to contribute back to society when I am in a position to do so.
"Allow me to be safe in the knowledge that I am not penalised in my educational pathway.
"Allow me to play to my strengths."