Arklow's Leo Dixon Appeals To Politicians For New Wheelchair.

Dixon attended the Dáil yesterday with his family to demonstrate the state of his temporary wheelchair.

A nine year-old boy from Arklow attended the Dáil yesterday with his family to demonstrate the state of his temporary wheelchair.

Leo Dixon has a rare form of bethlem myopathy muscular dystrophy, which is a progressive muscle wasting disease with no cure and no treatment. The family were invited to the Dáil by Wexford Independent TD Verona Murphy to explain how Leo’s temporary wheelchair is not fit for his needs.

Chair of the Commitee on Disability matters, Michael Moynihan TD, committed to holding a Commitee session on the Child Disability Network Team services.

Deputy Verona Murphy TD explains Leo's situation, saying "In April 2021, Leos family accepted a temporary wheelchair with the promise of a correctly fitted and appropriate chair. The chair provided in April 2021 is not fit for purpose. Leo is unable to self-propel in this chair; it is simply too heavy for his use. The chair itself is second or third hand, and is in a shocking state. The brakes don't work, the handles used to push Leo are broken and taped into position and the wheelrims are so worn that when Leo does try to self-propel, he gets metal splinters and cuts on his hands. It is a health and safety risk and is not fit for purpose."

Talking about the latest news she has received from the Minister for Health and Wicklow TD Stephen Donnelly, Leo's mother, Susan Dixon, says that "I did have word from Stephen Donnelly's office that movement has been made on the funding of the wheelchair for Leo. I have received nothing directly to me, the letter was addressed to Mr. Donnelly himself, and he has forwarded it to me. I have yet to hear anything from anybody in an official capacity in relation to funding for the wheelchair, but as it stands, there is word out there that the wheelchair funding has gone through."