Although aware of the present budgetary constraints, social workers are extremely concerned that vulnerable service users will lose vital services. As poverty and disability are closely linked, social workers maintain that it is imperative on a caring society to seek to maintain quality of life for such a sector.

The National Representative Group of Social Workers in Disability (IASW) is holding an Annual Conference on the 21^{st and} 22^nd October in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co. Offaly. 

Entitled ‘Value for Money- At What Cost?’ the focus of the Conference is on the impact of the current financial climate on the delivery of services to service users and the importance, more than ever of advocacy for them. 

Speakers at the conference include Frieda Finlay, Chairperson of the Board of Inclusion Ireland and Brendan Broderick, CEO Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary /Muiriosa Foundation, a member of the ‘Value for Money’ Working Group. The Conference will be opened by Ineke Durville IASW Chairperson.

For further information contact Catriona Whitty Ph 087 7971854 

Information for editors: the Social Workers in Disability group is a representative group of social workers working with people who use disability services throughout Ireland. This group is a special interest group of the Irish Association of Social Workers, which has provided a national leadership and representative role for social workers in Ireland since 1971.