I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise the lack of services for people with intellectual disabilities. Last night, I attended a packed meeting in the Mansion House in Dublin. Families from all over Ireland travelled to the meeting. It was refreshing to see the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, present to listen to the views and concerns of the parents. We must listen to the parents of children and adults with disabilities, understand them and act through the provision of quality services.
The present situation is a nightmare for many families. I urge the Minister to act, particularly this year when the Special Olympics will be held in this country. This is the largest sporting event to take place in Ireland. A total of 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches will visit this country and compete in different sports. Over 150 countries will be represented. We are proud of that and everybody should get behind our team.
However, will the Government tell these athletes and the world about our waiting lists for people with disabilities? The situation is scandalous. A total of 1,711 people need full-time residential service, 861 people need a day care service, 1,014 people need a respite service, 462 people are without any service while 485 people are in psychiatric hospitals. This is a human rights issue. There seems to be nothing special about these Irish citizens. Will the Government enjoy the positive side of the events while, at the same time, ignoring the crisis for people with intellectual disabilities?
This scandal should be exposed. On the north side of Dublin, St. Michael's House provides an excellent service but there are massive waiting lists. There are now 345 people waiting for residential places. Many of them have elderly parents. In the current year St. Michael's has been allocated 11 residential places. Thirty of these people are in extreme need. Capital moneys which were promised for 2002 have been effectively withdrawn and are under review. Seven of the people on the waiting list have parents who are seriously ill, some of them terminally ill.
This is the real world for the families of people with intellectual disabilities. There have been five years of economic boom and the Celtic tiger. The Government should act immediately. Many parents believe cases dealing with the lack of services should be brought before the European Court of Human Rights. I support the Irish Wheelchair Association's efforts to highlight the fact that an estimated 6,000 people are waiting for grants. In human terms this means the ability to install a stairlift, a downstairs toilet and washing facilities. This is just another example of the lack of care and concern on the part of the Government.
For many families of people with physical and intellectual disabilities the situation is getting worse. In the past few weeks alone, I have dealt with a number of queries on disability services. The family of one child with a severe intellectual disability cannot get respite care while the family of a child who is visually impaired cannot get a school for next September. Many of them have to travel outside the State to get services. A man with a physical disability cannot get rented accommodation because his weekly allowance is inadequate. I have dealt with many other cases.
Clearly, there is a major crisis in the services. Many people feel excluded. There is a long way to go before we create a so-called just society. There is, however, a way around the problem. The Minister could introduce a disability Bill that would guarantee services as a matter of right. Rights-based legislation is the way forward. After listening to the parents at last night's meeting, the least the Government can do is bring forward rights-based legislation.
