Let us consider the following figures in respect of intellectual disability: 1,711 people are currently living at home in need of full-time residential service; 861 need a day service; 1,014 need a respite service; and 462 have no service whatsoever. There are nearly 500 people with intellectual disabilities who have been inappropriately placed in psychiatric institutions. This is the European Year of Disabled People, but the Government, in a budget that accounted for more than €31 billion of income and more than €26 billion of current spending, has not allocated €1 to increase the places and expand the services of people with disabilities. This is a scandal and it is totally unacceptable.
During the past six weeks or so, I have met parents of people with intellectual disabilities from different locations in the Fingal area regarding the future of services for the region, which has a population of nearly 500,000. Most of these parents or guardians, who are middle-aged or elderly, are deeply concerned at the prospect of a very bleak future for their children. Furthermore, many of them live in rural areas where there is no access to public transport.
Prosper Fingal has been a huge success since it was established in 1978 and has developed a wide range of service options, both centre and community-based. Vocational training is an important element of the services provided and there are currently 38 adults, ten of whom will finish in September, availing of it. What will be available to them after vocational training? No funding from any source has been provided in the 2003 budget to provide a service for them. Having developed skills and knowledge over three to five years, they will have to return to the home environment for 24 hours per day where, more often than not, they will lose many of the social skills acquired, leading to immense domestic upheaval. This goes against the entire concept of training.
Of the ten vacancies which will arise in vocational training, there will be at least 20 to 30 referrals from mainstream schools, St. Michael's House, family and carers and other sources. Due to the funding shortage, many of them will not get a place and waiting lists will become the norm.
Transport is also an essential part of the service because of disability levels, wheelchair use, location, the lack of public transport and health issues. The previous transport arrangements have not been renewed by the health board and, accordingly, Prosper Fingal now has responsibility for providing it. Parents have informed me that the allocation from the health board is insufficient to provide an adequate service and some service users have been unable to attend the centre in recent weeks For others, the cutback in transport will result in their having to spend up to eight hours per day in a minibus given the requirement to pick up adults.
We know that service providers throughout the country are being forced to tell parents of people with intellectual disabilities of school-leaving age that no service can be guaranteed for them this year. The Government's policy is moving away from a recognition of the philosophy that people with disabilities should not have to rely on charity or, in many cases, have to draw on their own limited resources.
Prosper Fingal has drawn up a five year plan to provide 45 additional day places, one five bedroom respite facility, two residential houses and an additional centre and clinic support facility. On behalf of the people with disabilities and their parents and guardians in Fingal, I demand that the Minister and the health board acknowledge their duties and responsibilities and work with Prosper Fingal to ensure that the basic facilities outlined in its programme can be implemented on a planned basis. Under the 1953 Act, the Minister can make a decision in this regard.
I do not wish to receive a response outlining what has been spent to date by the Government. I live in the real world and people with intellectual disabilities are demanding that their rights be acknowledged and that services be provided. Nothing else is acceptable. The ball is in the Minister's court and he has the responsibility and power to ensure that the basic necessities can be provided.
