I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this very important debate on disability services. Group spokespersons will have ten minutes, all other speakers will have five minutes and the Minister of State will reply no later than 8.50 p.m. Statements are to conclude by 9 p.m.
Disability Services: Statements
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to outline the key priorities for me as Minister of State with responsibility for disability over the next number of years. This Government is absolutely committed to improving services for people with disabilities and ensuring that they can live full lives with the same rights and access to services, education, transport, culture, sport and careers, and have the means to live independently, as all other citizens do.
I have made it a priority to visit services, meet people with disabilities and sit down with representatives of advocacy groups to hear their views on what is working well and what needs to be improved. There are wonderful examples of services that help to transform lives. There are also examples of services that need additional support and bolstering. There is no shortage of good ideas about what can and must be done, but it is only by tapping into the lived experience of people with disabilities that will we understand what is happening on the ground, which will help us to deliver the reforms needed to improve services and deliver on our ambition.
I and my colleagues want to deliver change that will have a real impact, as well as helping to oversee reform in this sector. For example, we want to ensure that a person using a wheelchair who uses public transport can travel seamlessly from his or her home to a bus stop or train station. I want to examine the expansion of the role of access officers in the public sector to ensure services such as libraries are accessible and people with disabilities are not prevented from attending and enjoying concerts and festivals. I wish to create a mechanism to allow public bodies to share best practice and I want to help people with disabilities to get into employment.
My Government colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that each Department and the local authority sector work together to address the various barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully engaging in society. While much work has been done to deliver more services on the ground, the Government is acutely aware of the need to do more. We are ambitious to deliver real change for those living with disabilities, including their families, carers and those working in the sector, who for far too long have felt unseen and unheard.
Given the significant proportion of the population who experience disability, we must ensure that public services are planned, delivered and maintained in a way that responds to the needs of those who use them. The degree to which people with disabilities will engage with public bodies and Departments over their lifetime is considerable. As such, enhancing services and improving the lives of people with disabilities requires an all-of-government approach, which reflects the mainstream first principle that underpins the State’s response to the needs of people with disabilities. I assure the House that in my role as Minister of State, I will be in regular contact with my ministerial colleagues and their Departments to ensure they act upon their commitments in this space in a meaningful and tangible way.
The formation of a new disability unit in the Department of An Taoiseach is crucial to ensuring we achieve service improvements across all aspects of disability services, whether it be provision of therapies, access to employment and education, suitable housing or other public services. This new unit will ensure there is a central focus to support co-ordination across all Departments, and that all Departments deliver on their commitments.
This Government is backing up our ambition through provision of additional funding. A total of €3.2 billion has been allocated for HSE disability services in budget 2025, which is an increase of 11.6% on 2024 and an overall increase of €1.2 billion since 2020. While this is a significant increase in funding, I appreciate that the sector faces significant pressures. I look forward to tackling these pressures over the next number of years, particularly during the annual Estimates process. The additional funding of €333 million allocated in budget 2025 represents the largest ever increase in the disability services budget. Some €290 million has been allocated in existing level-of-service funding, which recognises those challenges that prevail in the sector, including the increased cost of service provision, pay cost pressures and service provider sustainability, while also providing for service expansion in line with demographic growth. A further €39 million has been allocated for new development measures to build on the service expansion achieved in 2024. In addition, the capital allocation for disability services will increase by €4 million to €27 million this year to support much-needed infrastructure development across respite, day services and children's services. I have also asked my Department to engage with the HSE in advance of the review of the national development plan to ensure that capital projects are identified for inclusion over the coming years.
The Government is committed to ensuring appropriate funding is available and provided to voluntary organisations to enable them to deliver quality services on an equitable basis throughout the country. However, I am acutely aware of the ongoing funding, operational and governance challenges faced by many disability service providers. The largest share of the budget for disability services - 72% - goes to voluntary service providers. Even with significant year-on-year increases in funding over recent years, there is a need to better understand and ultimately address the systemic sustainability and stability challenges being experienced by disability organisations across the sector. We will continue to work together to understand the cost of services and, more importantly, the factors driving the costs, to ensure that we can make strong data-driven cases for increased investment in the sector.
The Department and the HSE are committed to working with key stakeholders to identify, assess and address constraints to create a more effective and sustainable disability sector. Our priority is to provide equitable access to quality services for persons with disability in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, commitments, delivery of the disability action plan, and the progressing disability services, PDS, roadmap 2023-2026. We want to ensure that we support progressive improvements in the sector. Partnership with the sector will be a significant focus to ensure we deliver on our commitments.
I am all too aware of the challenges facing the sector when it comes to the recruitment and retention of staff. A key focus for the Government will be to fill vacancies within the 93 children's disability network teams, CDNTs. Progress is being made in this regard, with the workforce increasing by 17% from October 2023 to October 2024, which is an increase of 272 whole-time-equivalent staff. We will build on this progress, including through the development of a dedicated disability workforce strategy that will be progressed this year.
I recognise the significant challenges families face in accessing assessments of need, and with the assessment process itself, resulting in unacceptable delays for children and their families. We are committed to addressing that this year, in part through the continuation of the assessment of need waiting list initiative, which enables the procurement of private assessments for long-waiting families. Part of this effort to improve wait times is the allocation of €10 million in funding this year to deliver approximately 2,850 assessments of need and to allow for additional capacity in the assessment teams in the form of assessment and liaison officers. Nevertheless, I am very conscious that more work needs to be done in this specific area.
The programme for Government commits to doubling the number of college places available for speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, psychologists, social workers and others. The onus is on those of us in government to ensure that we do everything we can to encourage these talented professionals into the sector.
I welcome the unprecedented agreement that was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, last month. The agreement between Departments and unions includes funding for a 9.25% pay increase for more than 20,000 workers in community and voluntary health and social care organisations. It recognises that staff should be fairly paid for the vital work they do, and crucially, the proposed agreement includes an automatic link to future public sector pay agreements for these workers. I understand that ICTU unions are balloting their members with a view to formalising the agreement and I am hopeful a positive outcome will be communicated in the coming weeks.
Strong policy is vital to fulfilling Government commitments. In this spirit, I am pleased to say that the national disability strategy is at an advanced stage and that publication is expected in a matter of months. I am working closely with the Minister, Deputy Foley, on delivering on the ambition of the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026. We have set ambitious targets in the plan to provide for unmet need and demographic change. This ambition is important to generate commitment to the vision we have for disability services in Ireland.
Respite plays a crucial role in the overall disability sector, providing much-needed support to families and carers. We are committed to the continued expansion of respite services including overnight respite services and alternative respite such as in-home respite, after-school and day respite programmes as well as host families and summer programmes. This is just a snapshot of the planned work the Government will be undertaking in the disability sector. Our commitment to enhancing service provision and improving the lives of people with disabilities is clearly present and, importantly, backed by funding. I really look forward to working with colleagues in the Seanad. My door is open. Nobody has a monopoly on good ideas, as I have said from the start, and I welcome the engagement here this evening.
I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate her on her appointment to what is one of the most serious portfolios in government. I am substituting for Senator Bradley, who is a leading advocate for people with disabilities. I wish her all the best.
Last week, I attended an information evening entitled Breaking Barriers, which was hosted by Ballybunion Community and Family Centre in north Kerry and chaired by Ms Laura Bennett. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Jacqui Harteveld at the Listowel Family Resource Centre, who also worked on this initiative, which aimed to inform and enlighten people, at a time of anxiety when their child has been diagnosed with a disability, about the pathways available to them. The objective of the meeting was to provide valuable resources and expert insights on supporting children with additional needs. This event was co-ordinated by professionals, parents and caregivers to share knowledge, connect and build a stronger and more inclusive community. The stress and anxiety experienced and expressed by all caregivers present was remarkable. They outlined the steps involved, from the first stages of referral either by their medical doctor or through self-referral to their primary care centre, to reach the children's disability network team, CDNT, which assesses children for complex and non-complex needs. The biggest cause of anxiety was the length of time spent on public waiting lists. What was also frustrating on the path from diagnosis was the lack of consideration of the family's needs and the lack of information. There was no communication with parents or guardians.
People with autism face many challenges but supports are available through the AsIAm charity, which promotes the needs of those with autism and provides support to help others to understand autism. Back in the dark days, autism was seen as a mental health issue but it is not, and it is not pathological either. April is autism awareness month and, as the programme for Government makes clear, there is a lot of work to be done. It is essential that we implement the autism innovation strategy and ensure the development of a successor strategy. We must legislate to place an autism strategy on a statutory footing. We must co-develop initiatives for people with autism to address service gaps at different stages of the life cycle. We must also expand the network of autism one-stop shops and create pathways for assessment and intervention for adults with autism. The Government must continue to support initiatives that foster the inclusion of the neurodiverse community and increase the sensory initiative grant so that communities can develop sensory gardens, hubs and spaces. This was spoken about in depth at the meeting I attended.
During my Seanad election campaign to represent the most vulnerable, I spoke with Fine Gael Councillor Anne-Marie Ford, who has been in the teaching profession for 28 years. In the past ten years, like so many teachers and school leaders, she has witnessed an enormous increase in pupils with additional needs in school. She believes that this is reflected nationally and internationally. Alongside this, she has been working in mental health services and has seen a rapid increase in the caseload of providers of these services, particularly post pandemic. Working in both of these fields has demonstrated to her the significance of the early years experience and its impact later on. As a result, she seeks a strategic, early intervention approach in education and service provision. This would mean a crossover or combined approach in health and education services. As outlined in the programme for Government, a cross-departmental examination of where disability spending delivers the best results should inform future funding. This will ensure that all children, regardless of the challenges they face, can realise their full potential and contribute to society. This will be best achieved through a proactive rather than reactive approach. A strategic, planned approach is needed, starting at the first stage of identification of needs by the public health nurse in the first year or two of life, followed through with a specialised early intervention programme with specialist trained teachers and multi-agency teams for three years, instead of two, to allow sufficient time for the interventions to benefit the child. Focusing on an intensive, evidence-based and standardised early intervention approach would increase the chances of children being prepared for and able to attend mainstream settings in their own communities, where they have the opportunity to learn alongside their peers who do not have additional needs. This would decrease the need for so many special class placements, which pose long-term problems for future integration back into society and, as mentioned, respite care. The practical benefits of an early-intervention approach will reduce the economic burden on society because it will result in a reduction in the need for respite services and will promote independence in young people, enabling them to contribute to the society in which they live. It will result in a reduction in the waiting lists for mental health and addiction services as well as in the numbers entering the criminal justice system or becoming homeless, thanks to the provision of early support systems.
As is outlined in the programme for Government, this can be achieved through the provision of school-based therapeutic services which link in from the initial early intervention settings to services that follow the individual child, ensuring the correct school placement. These therapeutic services would work in line with the new Sláintecare regional model of oversight, with the provision of psychiatry, psychology, physiotheraphy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy services. This support should follow the child from national school into secondary school and beyond. Class sizes must allow an integrated and inclusive approach, giving each child the opportunity to thrive socially and emotionally. This is an investment in our children and in our future.
The programme for Government commits to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities and to prioritising the publication and funding of a new national disability strategy setting out its vision to 2030. I wish to raise the serious issue of the lack of respite services in Kerry and to propose what can be described as a business plan for St. Francis Special School in Beaufort, County Kerry.
It is committed to providing care and education to pupils with moderate and severe to profound intellectual disabilities. A key strength of the school is the strong peer community that has been fostered over the years. Pupils develop deep friendships and find a sense of belonging within the school community, which is a critical part of their overall development.
As the students transition into adulthood, they face a significant gap in service provision and the disruption of their peer network can lead to distress and regression. There is an urgent need for an adult day service and a respite service to be established on the grounds of St. Mary of the Angels. By implementing this initiative, we can ensure continuity of care. St. Mary of the Angels would provide a familiar setting, reducing stress and enhancing the well-being of young adults. The community of peers built at St. Francis school would be maintained, fostering continued social interaction and emotional support. School staff are highly trained to meet the specific needs of all pupils and would be available to support adult day services. The grounds already accommodate individuals with similar needs, making it an ideal location for such an initiative.
Taking this approach would also reduce stress for the families of the children concerned by providing a guaranteed pathway from school to adult care, thereby eliminating the need to find appropriate replacement care. Parents would have peace of mind knowing that their children would remain in a supportive and familiar environment. The preservation of the peer community would provide reassurance for families that their children remain engaged and supported. It would also make effective use of existing resources. St. Mary of the Angels is centrally located within the region, making it very accessible. The transport network is already in place and by using an existing site, we would eliminate the need for families to seek placement in alternative, unfamiliar and distant locations.
There would also be long-term cost savings. A structured transition service would result in significant savings for the HSE and the State. Currently, a substantial amount of time and resources are spent trying to find or create places for school leavers in existing services, many of which are at full capacity. Without proper transition planning, many young adults experience regression and require additional medical and psychological intervention, thereby placing more strain on the HSE. By establishing services within an existing campus, we would eliminate the need for costly adaptations to other facilities.
The programme for Government commits to progressively increasing funding for respite services. Let us start with St. Mary of the Angels in Beaufort, County Kerry. Our most vulnerable and their families deserve better. The solutions I am proposing tick all the boxes for students and their carers, their peers and families, the HSE, the healthcare system and the State. I invite the Minister of State to discuss these proposals in detail. I invite her to Kerry to meet the most dedicated people working and fighting for a better future for all.
I welcome to the Gallery Deputy Geoghegan, along with a delegation of students from UCD. They are welcome to Seanad Éireann and we hope they enjoy their visit and learn a lot. They might come back at some stage in the future on the other side of the Chamber.
The Minister of State is welcome to the House and I congratulate her on her appointment to this important portfolio. According to the World Health Organization, everybody in this room, everybody outside and everybody in the world will have a disability for an average of between eight and ten years of their lifespan. For most of us, it comes at the end of life. Unfortunately for disabled citizens in Ireland, particularly children, teenagers and young adults, their rights are routinely and cruelly not vindicated. This is the situation that the Minister of State has inherited.
As a family, we have been living with disability and the experience of having a disabled adult son for 21 years. Since the austerity measures following the financial crash, the circumstances of disabled citizens have deteriorated by every measure over the past 15 years or so. One in four of our homeless citizens is disabled. People with disabilities suffer from social isolation, loneliness, suboptimal medical outcomes and a lack of therapies and interventions. The Minister of State knows as well as the rest of us that thousands of children cannot get an assessment of need. Even if they can, it is just a piece of paper. Those assessments might as well be photocopied because the therapies or supports that are set out as required for disabled children will not be available.
Ireland is an outlier in the European Union in respect of disabilities. We are the only jurisdiction in the European Union where disabled citizens do not have the legal right to therapies, supports, surgical interventions and personal assistant supports. We have a polity here that is, I am sorry to say, pathologically ableist. That was writ large last year during the care referendum when the Government and all the political parties with the exception of one campaigned on a "Yes" vote that would give constitutional expression to the idea that the family is the exclusive and primary responsible agent for the care of disabled citizens. That is the opposite of a rights-based approach. It is the opposite of the principles and concepts set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Everybody, from the Taoiseach to the Attorney General, advocated and campaigned hard for a wording that would have set back the rights of disabled citizens in this country by decades. It also would have set back the rights of women. Some 99% of unpaid carers are women and girls. My daughter, at 16, was toileting her 18-year-old brother as a result of the lack of personal assistant support and interventions. On the subject of respite, we have had no respite in 23 years. The experience of disability in Ireland is, I am sorry to say, a negative one, and unnecessarily so.
That brings me to the publication today of the HIQA report into governance issues at Children's Health Ireland, CHI, on the use of implantable medical devices. This is a dark day for the Republic. We have hundreds of children who are waiting for scoliosis surgery and who have been allowed to deteriorate to a point that is not seen in other jurisdictions. I previously raised the case of Mikey Henry from Ballina. He has a scoliotic curve of 102°. Little Daniel Collins in Kerry has a scoliotic curve of over 90°. That is a right angle. Imagine allowing a spine to deteriorate to that extent. Before Christmas, in advance of the publication of this report, I spoke to paediatric spinal surgeons from Phoenix, Arizona. They were here at a conference and reviewed the case histories of children on the scoliosis waiting lists. They have never seen children deteriorate to that extent. They told me that if we were to put the hundreds of children on our scoliosis waiting lists onto an Airbus to Boston, Vancouver or the UK, there would be an international medical incident and scandal. They would ask what country would allow children to deteriorate to this extent. The reason is that those children do not have the right to these supports and interventions. The report on CHI shows that the people who come last in the list of concerns of the institutions and organisations that are charged by the State to look after disabled citizens are disabled children and their families.
Since the publication of the report, I have had contact from dozens of families who are completely in the dark. Aside from the three children who are mentioned in this report, within whom devices were implanted, there are at least 27 other cases. Nobody knows if their child is one of those others or not. They are not being consulted. The families want a full public inquiry. I read the report with great interest, albeit I am speed reading it today. I must say that there is a big difference between the newspaper headlines on the substance of this report and its actual content.
There is a tendency within the media to blame maybe one individual, but this is a systemic whole-of-organisation problem. I have no confidence whatsoever in the executive leadership team or the board of Children's Health Ireland. The report is very clear on that stating that in a fast moving environment where there is change and where it is dynamic, they have failed completely in their governance, oversight, clinical decisions, management of theatre and the procurement and decontamination process. How can we allow that executive leadership team and the board to oversee the transition to the new premises? That will create an even bigger risk incident with the children who are being dealt at paediatric services in Tallaght, Connolly, Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals. I hope the Minister of State can communicate that to her colleagues at Cabinet.
Ireland is a country where we do not have a rights-based approach. Within the lifetime of this Government, I hope the Minister of State can assist me. During the previous Government, I brought a disability rights Bill to the Final Stage that would rectify that situation for disabled citizens and give them the legal right to treatments, therapies and supports that they would enjoy in other jurisdictions. It is coming to its Final Stage on 2 July 2025 when I have a Private Members' business slot. I hope the Minister of State can support me on that. her predecessor said that the Government would support the Final Stage of the Bill. I hope if I can speak to her and the Minister, Deputy Foley, that perhaps they might introduce it in the Dáil, progress it there and enact it. That would remedy most of the problems that disabled citizens are confronted with and that all of us in due course will.
During the three years of my tenure, I have also drafted a much more complex Bill on personalised budgets. I have restored both Bills to the Order Paper. For this Bill, luckily, I was given the support and assistance of one of the largest corporate law firms in the country and internationally, Maples Group. As part of their corporate social responsibility, they provided me with the services of a legal team for two years. They examined every aspect of Government policy and every Bill, up to and including the report that former Ministers, Senator Rabbitte and Deputy O'Gorman launched in December 2023, all the consultations with disabled persons organisations, as well as service providers and all the best practice legislation in other jurisdictions. They have come up with a solution for the personalised budgets problem here. Luckily, in the previous Seanad, 27 Senators from all parties - Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Green Party, Labour, Sinn Féin - cosigned the Bill. I am hoping that now it is restored to the Order Paper to begin to progress that and of course, I welcome amendments from Government. This is actually a solution. A total of 72% of the budget goes to service providers whereas 72% of the budget should go to disabled citizens themselves to give them the autonomy to live their lives to their fullest potential and to self-actualise and participate in the social, economic and cultural life of the State.
I hope we can work together to progress these matters. The situation is bleak for disabled citizens, but I want to be solutions focused and I have solutions in the legislation that I have drafted. Unlike other jurisdiction, we are not a very polarised Parliament and hopefully we can work together constructively to progress these matters. I wish the Minister of State the very best of luck in her portfolio.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus déanaim comhghairdeas léi. Gabhaim buíochas léi agus tá súil agam go mbeidh an t-ádh léi. It is both an honour and privilege to address the House as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on children and disability on an issue that is very close to my heart: the advancement of the rights and the improvement of the lives of people with disabilities in our country. This is not just about policy or politics; this is about building a society that cherishes all of its people equally. Fianna Fáil has long been committed to this principle. I wish to reaffirm our unwavering dedication to ensuring equality, dignity and opportunity for all.
One of the most transformative and meaningful steps we took as a Government was the transfer of the responsibility for disability from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This move was not just a procedural adjustment. It was a fundamental reimagining of how we approach disability issues in Ireland by embedding the principles of the UNCRPD into policymaking across government. We made a conscious decision to adopt a rights-based approach. This approach ensures that people with disabilities are not merely recipients of services but are active participants in shaping policies that impact their lives. It acknowledges their autonomy, voices and contributions to our society.
In addition to this structural shift, Fianna Fáil has spearheaded significant reforms designed to modernise and humanise our approach to disability. One of the most notable achievements in this regard has been the abolition of the outdated and paternalistic wardship system. This system, which deprived individuals of their agency and decision-making powers, has been replaced by the Decision Support Service. This is a progressive framework that empowers individuals to make choices about their own lives, while providing support where and if necessary. This change reflects our broader commitment to respecting the dignity and autonomy of every individual in the State.
Recognising the unique challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, we launched Ireland's first autism innovation strategy. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to foster innovation in service delivery, improve access to education and employment opportunities and create a society that is inclusive and accommodating of neurodiversity. It is a clear demonstration of our dedication to addressing the specific needs of all members of our community.
Our commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities is not just reflected in policy reforms but also in our financial priorities. Since 2020, Fianna Fáil has increased funding for disability services by more than 50%. This significant investment underscores our recognition of the critical need to support services, programmes and initiatives that enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities. These funds have been directed towards improving access to healthcare, education, housing and employment for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that they have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive and yet, as proud as we are of these achievements, we do recognise that there is still a lot of work to be done. The challenges faced by people with disabilities in Ireland are complex and addressing them requires a comprehensive whole-of-government approach. That is why the programme for Government includes a robust set of commitments and actions to be delivered for people with disabilities, as well as for those working in the disability sector. These commitments are not merely aspirations; they are concrete goals backed by actionable plans.
A key element of our strategy going forward is the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026. This plan represents a bold and forward-thinking vision for the expansion of disability services to meet the expected demographic changes and to address existing unmet needs. For example, the plan outlines the addition of 600 extra full-time staff within children's disability services ensuring that young people and their families receive timely and effective support. Additionally, the plan provides for 1,200 new day service places each year ensuring that school leavers with disabilities have the opportunities and resources they need to transition seamlessly into adulthood and to pursue their aspirations. Since the publication of this ambitious plan, €42 million has been provided for the disability services, reflecting our commitment to turning plans into action. Budget 2025 allocated €336 million in additional funding for the disability services. This funding will be directed towards initiatives such as improving access to digital supports, which are increasingly essential in today's world, and providing one off grants designed to enhance the quality of life for those who rely on these vital services.
These investments are not just about meeting immediate needs; they are about building a foundation for long term progress. As we strive to implement these initiatives and fulfil our commitments, we do so with the understanding that our ultimate goal is an Ireland where every individual, regardless of ability or disability, is empowered to reach their full potential. It should be all about them. This means addressing not only the practical challenges but also fostering a culture of inclusion, a culture of understanding, and a culture of respect. It means breaking down barriers and ensuring people with disabilities are not just included but valued as active and equal participants in our society.
I also wish to mention the families of people with a disability, particularly those with an acquired disability or parents with a new baby that has been diagnosed with a disability. I have dealt a lot with parents over the years. One mother described receiving the news about her child having a disability as similar to planning to go to Spain on holidays, having learned Spanish with everything packed, and then landing in France, not knowing the language, where to go or who to turn to. We have to think about and support the parents, especially those with newborn babies, and the families of people with acquired disabilities. It is not what they planned or what they thought their lives would be.
As we reflect on the progress we have made, and the challenges that lie ahead, let us remember that the true measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. By this measure, without a doubt, we still have work to do. However, we can take pride in the strides we have made and the vision we have for the future. Fianna Fáil remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing the rights and improving the lives of peoples with disabilities. Together, let us continue to build a more inclusive Ireland where every individual has the opportunity to thrive, the opportunity to contribute and the opportunity to live with dignity and respect.
Go raibh míle maith agat. Anois, I call Senator Pauline Tully. Are you sharing your time?
I am sharing my time with Senators McCormack and Andrews.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Statements on disabilities can focus on the negative experiences and the barriers faced by disabled people in their daily reality. I commend the many disabled people who are role models and ambassadors in our country. I pay particular tribute to our athletes who took part in the Paralympic Games last summer and the athletes who took part in the Special Olympics Winter Games last month. We have many other disabled artists, musicians and so forth, who are great ambassadors for our country.
Unfortunately, when it comes to employment, Ireland has a dismal record. The employment rate for disabled people ranks the lowest in the EU. Our employment rate among disabled people is 32.6%, which is almost 20% below the EU average. The employment gap is wider in Ireland than it is in any other European country. It is wider again for women, which is a shock. It needs to be addressed.
I was recently speaking to a disabled person who is visually impaired. He is an executive officer employed by the civil service. He was telling me that he has very little work to do because he is not provided with the accommodations he needs to do the work. It is terrible to be left sitting in a job that you are employed to do with practically nothing to do. He cannot seek promotion because his record of work is not being seen. I know there is a target, which is increasing this year, for employment within the public sector but needs to be meaningful and we need to ensure that the accommodations workers require are provided so that they can do the job that they are employed to do and feel included within the system. We need to look more at the private sector and encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and to make them aware of all the accommodations that exist. Otherwise, we will not live up to the UNCRPD.
On housing, we know we have a housing crisis in this country, but there is a housing crisis within that for disabled people, because inevitably they are the people who are on a housing waiting list the longest. This may include a person with a physical disability waiting on an accessible house or a person who is still in a congregated setting or a person with an intellectual disability living with aged parents. Putting people into nursing homes because, for example, they have an acquired brain injury and there is no suitable housing for them, is still the practice, which is disgraceful.
All many parents who are getting older worry about is what is going to happen to their son or daughter when they leave this world. Generally what happens is that their son or daughter is put into an emergency residential setting with no planning in place. It could be miles from their community or from anyone they know. They are trying to deal with the grief of losing a parent at the same time as settling in to a new home. There needs to be a much better plan for all disabled people, including intellectually disabled people, to ensure that they have a home suitable to their needs in their communities and the necessary supports to live independent lives.
The Minister of State mentioned CDNTs in her opening contribution and the effort to increase the numbers employed within teams. From engaging with parents, it seems they are just not working. I have not come across a parent who said that they are getting satisfactory support from their CDNT. Many parents tell me that if their child aged out of the early intervention teams in 2019, they have not received any therapy since then. Children who were too young to be part of those early intervention teams have had no therapy whatsoever. It is affecting their ability to progress and their ability to learn in school. I have had several meeting with school authorities in recent times. They say that, whatever little support they used to get some years ago from the child development teams, which was very welcome, they are getting absolutely no support at all now. We are creating a large cohort of children who will become dependent adults if they do not get support.
When Deputy Naughton was Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, a school inclusion model was piloted in the CHO area 7, which was very successful. The NCSE has extended that into the Limerick area. We need to consider extending that nationwide because I do not know whether we will ever achieve the recruitment required to get the CDNTs to work. If we could get therapy into the schools to provide support to children, teachers and SNAs, that would be very beneficial.
I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish her well in her role. We do really need her to succeed in it.
I want to highlight a serious and ongoing issue that I hope she will give serious attention to, which is the continued exclusion of people with disabilities from the planning and design of public projects. Time and again, infrastructure schemes are rolled out nationwide without adequate consideration for accessibility. It is not acceptable in 2025. It is not fair and it is not inclusive. For example, there are kiosks all over the country to recycle bottles and cans under the deposit return scheme. This is a great initiative in principle but how can we call it a national scheme when so many of the kiosks are simply not wheelchair friendly? When a person with a disability is unable to participate in a national initiative, that is not progress; that is exclusion.
In my home county of Laois, a brand-new, state-of-the-art library was opened. One would expect that in this day and age, in a new build, accessibility would be a given, yet the lift in this new facility cannot accommodate a standard wheelchair. Let us imagine the message that sends out to a young wheelchair user who wants to visit the library and read books like everyone else. It is not about box-ticking; it is about dignity, equal access and basic rights. People with disabilities must be included from the very start of the planning process and not as an afterthought. It is something I feel strongly about. We need mandatory accessibility audits for all publicly funded projects and we need real consultation with the disability community because they know what is needed. Inclusion should not be optional; it should be automatic. It should be built in and not bolted on. People with disabilities just want to be treated the same as everybody else.
I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her new role. I hope she is successful. It is important for many people that she is.
The Minister of State may have heard of Involve Autism, an advocacy group based in Dublin 6. It is very constructive, positive, detailed and solution focused. One of the things it has highlighted is the cost of transporting children with special educational needs and children with disabilities to school just in south Dublin. I have raised this here before. In south Dublin, from Ringsend, Pearse Street and Kevin Street out to Terenure and Rathfarnham, in 2021 the State spent €63,579 per day on taxis and buses to transport children to school. That was to transport children way out of their own communities, meaning they had to leave their siblings, get on a bus and off they went. In 2021-22 that rose to €72,704 a day. In 2022-23 that rose again to €91,919. In 2023-24 that rose again to €107,000 per day, transporting children out of their communities to schools. So far in the 2024-25 school year it is working out at €122,453 per day. That is just bizarre; it is bonkers. That comes to €612,000 per week which is almost €2.5 million per month. Over the seven months of a school year it works out at €17 million a year. How does that make any sense? How can the Government stand over and defend that? How does that make sense for anybody in society?
I wish to share time with Senator Harmon.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Go n-éirí an t-ádh léi ina post nua. As other people have said, we really hope she succeeds, for people with disabilities, their families and their caregivers most importantly.
I wish to talk about the specific issue of triage for young adults with additional needs in emergency departments. I will give an example. Lauren is a young adult from Leitrim with Down's syndrome. Like many young adults with Down's syndrome, Lauren occasionally suffers from episodes requiring medical assessment beyond the scope of that which can be provided by her GP. Since becoming an adult, on two occasions last year Lauren's GP advised her family to bring her to the emergency department, once in Mullingar and once in Cavan, to determine whether treatment was required. Before she was 18, Lauren had always been assessed as a child. As those of us who have had children attend an ED know, children are assessed and they are moved on either to the paediatric ward or at least to a more comfortable environment, much more promptly than adults who are waiting.
In her two admissions last year, however, Lauren was an adult and was treated as such by the staff as she passed through the triage system to determine the urgency of the case. The prolonged nature of this experience has had a profound and negative experience on Lauren. I commend Lauren's mother, Maura, whom I know very well and who has been a very strong advocate on behalf of her daughter. For 12 hours late at night, Lauren sat in the emergency department until her parents were able to gain permission from a nurse to go home for the evening and return the next morning without losing her place in the queue. During that time, Lauren was exposed to aspects of life she was unequipped to process or deal with. Some people with Down's syndrome are hypersensitive to what is going on around ,them and Lauren is one such individual. She is both caring and sensitive. This caring, sensitive young adult saw people who themselves were in great distress and in pain. She witnessed scenes which left her with a sense of disorder. She witnessed some very unwell people, including some people who were under the influence of intoxicants and some people who were handcuffed by the Garda. Lauren was very clearly distressed by this and, as she was leaving, a very kind hospital staff member apologised that she was exposed to these scenes but they made it clear they were severely limited in what they could do to lessen the experience.
Nearly six months on, Lauren has not fully recovered from this incident. She experiences panic attacks and has difficulties sleeping, two unwelcome developments that Lauren did not suffer from before this experience. I ask the Minister of State to work with the HSE and to have a wide review of how adults with learning difficulties or additional needs are triaged. Triage is defined as a preliminary assessment of patients or casualties to determine the urgency of their need for treatment and the nature of treatment required. The capacity of individuals to deal with the immediate environment clearly impacts the urgency of their needs and therefore should form part of the triage assessment.
It is not appropriate that adults with additional needs are treated in the same way as other adults while awaiting assessment. It is also clearly not appropriate that they are treated as children; they are not children. Failure to acknowledge and act upon these two realities demonstrates the way in which we as a society do not always look beyond meeting the needs of the majority. It does not benefit anybody to treat everybody exactly the same. It does not benefit the adult with additional needs who may become distressed and disruptive while waiting and it does not benefit the adults with no additional needs who are also exposed to and absorb that distress.
Equality does not need identical treatment. Equality means giving everyone what they need to reach the same destination, in this case, satisfactory access to treatment and discharge. Equality demands that adults with additional needs have those needs met. That can be as simple as a staff member going around the emergency department from time to time to assess the mood and needs of those present. While I know we are often limited, it may mean providing a more homely area or room where those with additional needs and their families may be able to wait in a more suitable environment. There can be failure to access through ignorance. Often this does not come up because people with Down's syndrome are often not able to say and so we rely on their advocates, caregivers and parents to be their voices.
Now that we have raised the issue, I hope the Minister of State will take this on board. Since Lauren's mother brought this to my attention, the parents of other children with Down's syndrome and additional needs have brought this to my attention. It is a simple thing that could be done very effectively.
I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am delighted to be the Labour Party's spokesperson on disability and further and higher education. I look forward to engaging with her constructively over the coming months and years.
This year will mark seven years since Ireland ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Having now signed up to the optional protocol, considerable work remains to be done to deliver inclusive communities in this country. It is great to hear the Minister of State say a new national disability strategy will be launched soon. We also need to strengthen the National Disability Authority. All legislation and budgets should be disability- and equality-proofed. We need to strengthen and adequately fund the National Advocacy Service. Placing it on a statutory footing will be vital. We need to resource community and voluntary sector organisations with multi-annual funding and bring the terms and conditions of staff in section 39 bodies in line with the public service through pay parity and ring-fencing multi-annual funding for disabled persons' organisations to build capacity and self-advocacy.
Our population is growing and ageing. Disability services in our health and social care system must be resourced and equipped to meet the existing needs and respond to growing levels of acquired disability throughout the life cycle. There is a massive unmet demand for disability services as outlined under the disability capacity review and the commitments in the disability services action plan. Service improvements are constantly delayed due to a failure of workforce planning and underfunding of section 39 organisations. We need to address this. Recruitment and retention will be key.
Linked to the Minister of State's brief is the issue of school places, and we need an interdepartmental approach to that. At the minute, there are 100 children in Cork without school places for September, which is unacceptable. We hear this every year and children are travelling long distances for appropriate places. We need an autism guarantee to secure an appropriate school place for every child and to develop a fully inclusive model of education that vindicates the right to education for all children across the range of disabilities and complies with the UN conventions.
There must be an expansion of the educational therapy support service through the NCSE to provide more in-school therapists. We need better training for teachers during their degree courses. Investment is needed in child-centred SNA provision. We must value SNAs, remove the 72-hour obligation and provide training to QQI level 6 equivalent. We need more interdepartmental collaboration in this regard. The Government must undertake an autism audit of all schools and provide continuing professional development, CPD, training on autism to school staff.
This week, we found out from HSE south west that, unfortunately, the average waiting time for an autism assessment through primary care services in Cork is 30 months. That is quite shocking. Children with complex needs in the Cork and south west region cannot access the disability services they need, with waiting times currently at 11.75 months, which is nearly one year. The delay is not just unacceptable; it is damaging. Early intervention is absolutely critical. It is during the early developmental years that timely supports can have the most meaningful impact. These delays not only risk children missing out on vital services but also jeopardise their chances of securing appropriate school places down the line.
There have been widespread delays and backlogs in service provision, with the HSE often failing to meet the legal timelines. This has led to legal challenges and investigations by bodies such as the Ombudsman for Children. We are failing these children at a time when we could intervene and change the course of their lives. I urge the Minister of State to work with her Cabinet colleagues on this issue. It is great to hear her speaking about recruitment to CDNTs, filling vacancies and further action in that regard.
On housing, we must fully implement and resource the national housing strategy for disabled people, including the provision of funding for technical advisers in local authorities, ring-fencing at least 10% of social and affordable housing for people with disabilities, providing universal design standards, ensuring homes are fully wheelchair accessible where necessary and reforming the Part M building regulations to require wheelchair-liveable housing. Provision of housing is a key area in terms of joined-up thinking.
I am glad the Minister of State mentioned public transport in the context of accessibility. We need to expand the Dublin Bus travel assistance scheme nationally to support people learning to travel independently. We must ensure all public transport services are wheelchair accessible.
Regarding education and employment, we need to provide more training places for healthcare staff but we also must ensure we keep them in the country once they have graduated. That is key. We need more support and access routes to education and employment for people with disabilities. We must invest more in such pathways, including by way of additional resources for the disability access route to education. There is a lot of work to be done. It was mentioned that Ireland had the lowest employment rate in Europe for people with disabilities. We are very much a laggard in this respect. We must support people into the workforce, support them to remain there and meet our public sector recruitment target of 6%.
I thank the Minister of State for being here. I look forward to her reply.
The Minister of State is very welcome. I wish her all the best in her role.
The current programme for Government is no different from the previous one. It commits to working tirelessly, alongside stakeholders, advocates, families and departmental officials, to ensure the commitments made under the programme are not just words on paper but actions with impact. As my colleague Senator Murphy O'Mahony noted, when the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, instructed that responsibility for disability services be moved from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, he did so on the basis that we all have health issues, including people with disabilities. That move symbolised much more than just a movement of functions from one Department to another. It was a move of clear leadership indicating that we understood that people with intellectual, physical, sensory and acquired disabilities all had rights to housing, education, employment, inclusion in the community, disability services, social protection, health supports and cultural participation.
The next national disability strategy will be the most important and transformative policy work the Government will have. It is across-Government, cross-departmental and across the desk of every Minister and Secretary General. It is imperative that when the national disability steering group is stood up - I wish the Minister of State all the best as chair - there are tangible measures outlined within the framework document. I hope it continues to sit under the pillars of housing and employment and that we hold the various Departments to account.
The Minister of State said in her opening contribution that €3.2 billion was allocated to the HSE. She does not have another cent of access in any other Department. The only funding she has outside that €3.2 billion is the €3.5 million that is allocated to the disability participation and awareness fund. For the past three years, that scheme has been the definition of putting down green shoots in other Departments, with 40 allocated projects undertaken in conjunction with Rethink Ireland. Outside of officialdom and the interference of anybody, the Departments will now be able to pick up those 40 green shoots and the other 18 projects being allocated as we speak, which the Minister of State will get to announce in June.
This engagement goes right across employment and sport. The No Barriers Foundation, which was late in receiving its grant funding, was previously allocated €389,000 under Rethink Ireland. The Together Academy supports people with Down's syndrome, with level 3 allocations being made in order that they can make their pathway through education. The reason all of this provision is there is to enable the Minister of State to ensure that other Departments allocate funding to step up and deliver services.
One of the most burning issues for me as a rural Senator is transport. The Minister of State, being from the west as well, will understand that. It has been discussed in this House, including by our colleagues in Sinn Féin who talked about €17 million being spent on transport. There is a big issue with transport if people cannot access it, and that is a huge issue in the west of Ireland, in Kerry and in Cork. That is why, a number of years ago, we allocated €5 million under transport services to ensure people have access. The Minister of State's Department has allocated €3.5 million for the upgrade of vehicles and provision of new vehicles. I find that disappointing in the sense that we need to look outside existing provision, such as the kerb-to-kerb Local Link service, and see whether we can provide a door-to-door service whereby personal assistants can take people through their front doors. The Galway Centre for Independent Living had a really good project but it seems it did not make it through come December and January.
Another initiative that has not made its way through, but should do so because it is part of Rethink Ireland, is the Wayfinding Centre. It was allocated €89,000 to train people to use transport services. The centre is located not too far from here in the old Glass Bottle site, in the constituency of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. There is a bus, DART train and even an aeroplane there, with training provided to people with disabilities, including acquired disabilities, on how to use those services. There is still funding within the transport grant of €400,000. It would be wonderful if the staff who have been trained up to teach the people who come to the centre get their funding. I make that plea.
With tolerance from the Chair, I have a final point to make. A cross-departmental project that was worked on by the Departments of Health and Transport, under the stewardship of the then Minister, Eamon Ryan, was the recycle mobility programme. Between the two Departments, trikes were bought and one of those trikes went to Beaufort in County Kerry. Its purpose was to assist people with individual needs and children with low muscle tone. We all talk about how we do not have enough physiotherapists. If we can get children on a bike or trike and out on a greenway, they can improve their muscle tone. This funding was not just pulled out of a pot; the scheme works in conjunction with other initiatives. That funding is in the base but, unfortunately, it is not being released at the moment to the relevant organisation, namely, Variety - the Children's Charity.
Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. Gabhaim buíochas léi as a bheith anseo inniu agus guím gach rath uirthi lena post nua.
The area of disability is one that affects almost all families in some form or other. Therefore, it is incredibly important that we are discussing it today. I wish to speak on an issue of growing importance in the area of disability services, the role of service dogs in supporting people with disabilities across the State. Currently, three organisations in Ireland provide assistance dogs, namely, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland and My Canine Companion. While I was familiar with My Canine Companion, it was only recently that I had the opportunity to meet with the founders, Cliona O'Rourke and Niall Ruddy. I thank the Munster Agricultural Society in Cork for that opportunity. It runs Cork Summer Show and is a household name. It introduced me to Niall and Cliona at its recent charity ball, which was in aid of My Canine Companion. It has also selected the organisation as its charity partner this year, so massive kudos is due to it for doing that.
At that event, we were addressed by two speakers, Caroline Hyde and Nicole Duggan, both of whom have children who benefited from service dogs. It was really poignant to hear of the positive change these dogs have made not only to their children with autism but to their family as a whole. My Canine Companion provides accredited service dogs to people with disabilities, predominantly autism, as well as a range of therapy dog services and autism awareness programmes. It is based in Blackpool, Cork, and provides 50% of Ireland's autism assistance dogs. This service is provided free of charge and it does not receive any Government funding. I want to be very clear on this because service dogs are not a luxury. They are assistive supports and are as essential as a mobility aid or communication device, yet we have no dedicated statutory funding scheme for them. This is potentially a failure that undermines our commitment to equality, independence and inclusion.
As a disability advocate who works closely with families, I have seen the life-changing impacts these highly trained animals can have. I have also seen the difference they can make in schools. Millstreet Community School is a school in my area of Cork North-West that has benefited greatly from having a school service dog. My Canine Companion has many school service dogs across the country. It currently has 91 active service dogs but has received 360 expressions of interest and just cannot meet that demand.
In light of this, there are many critical issues we need to address. First and foremost is the lack of funding. Service dog training and placement costs range from €15,000 to €38,000, depending on which of the three groups we are dealing with. While Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind does receive some State funding, as I have mentioned, My Canine Companion receives zero, as does Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland. They are completely self-funded through fundraising and donations. This is both unsustainable and inequitable. I appreciate that funding may not be available directly from the Minister of State's Department but, similarly to what my colleague said previously, maybe we could look at cross-departmental funding. Maybe it is something that could be funded under a CLÁR measure. These are things that should be explored.
There is a knock-on effect from the lack of funding. There are issues with limited supply and long waiting lists. Service dog providers are unable to meet the growing demand and waiting lists are often two to three years long, during which time individuals are left without the support. In 2023 - these are just figures related to My Canine Companion, never mind the other two organisations - it was able to provide 100 families with dogs but this was out of 1,750 applicants. There is a need there.
Under-recognition in policy frameworks is also a big issue in this area. Service dogs are not consistently recognised across disability policy documents and funding models, and it leaves a critical support unaccounted for. I am seeking the establishment of a dedicated service dog support fund designed to cofund the training, placement and support of accredited service dogs in partnership with not-for-profit providers. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism report, which was published in June 2023, noted:
the State must also invest in organisations providing autism assistance dogs, such as Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (AADI).
[...]
It is clear that State funding is needed to increase the capacity of organisations such as AADI to provide assistance dogs to autistic people.
We have yet to see this recommendation actioned.
We also need to look at funding research and evaluation to measure the long-term economic, social and health impacts of service dogs in disability support, particularly in reducing reliance on formal care services, improving community participation and enhancing well-being. It could also be important and valuable to launch a public awareness campaign to address barriers faced by service dog users in public spaces and workplaces and on transport, ensuring that legal protections are both known and respected. These are very practical suggestions, in line with our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which we have ratified.
This is a blind spot we must address, and investing in service dogs is not just about compassion. It is about rights and efficiency and it is also about fairness.
Like other speakers, I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. Her success in her position is a success for all of us and will be a success for people with disabilities, who are people we represent. I genuinely wish her well in her work in the years ahead.
A figure that has been reported in recent times is that 22% of the population, or 1.2 million, have a disability or a disabling condition. That is quite a large figure. Other Senators have spoken about the population growth in this country. With the population growth, we have seen an increase in those with need. Having a disability system that is fit for purpose and that represents and provides a level of service is important now but also into the future. It is important that we get our systems and services correct.
I spoke to students in the Gaelscoil Dhoctúir Uí Shúilleabháin in Skibbereen yesterday afternoon about the importance of politics and the job we do in putting policies in place. There is no more important work that we can do than ensuring we have good policies for people with disabilities. In my tenure, during my few years here, I want to continue to raise the issue of respite. I have spoken to the Minister of State previously about the issue. Respite is one of the most important services that can be provided by both the State and service providers in providing support for those who care for people with disabilities.
I also want to mention some of the work that both the Minister of State and other Members have done with regard to programme for Government works and putting in place a strong programme for Government in the area of disabilities. Mention has been made of some of the new supports that are going to be put in place and the increase in funding. The creation of the Minister of State's own role and the fact that she will be sitting at Cabinet is a key benefit for the area.
On respite, and I have spoken to the Minister of State about this previously, having gone through the local elections last year in west Cork and knocked on a lot of doors, the severe lack of respite became apparent after a very short period. Between 15 and 20 people across a number of weeks raised the issue with me. As politicians, when we knock on doors, once an issue starts to be continually raised, we know it is a serious issue. We formed a respite action group in west Cork after those elections, which has met on a number of occasions. I have said to the Minister of State previously that we would like to meet her on a visit to west Cork. As she said, her work at the moment is travelling the country to see what works well in some areas and what units work well. Where there are challenges, we also want her to hear the challenges and the stories of the people in west Cork.
The respite system needs radical change. While there are commitments in the programme for Government to increasing funding, we also need to look at our model of respite. We need to look at best practice in other countries in the EU. France, Belgium and other jurisdictions do respite differently. Maybe work has been done on that previously, but we need to look at it as a Government and as a Department because the people we represent want to see change. It is not just about funding and putting more funding into the areas; we might need to change the service. There are criticisms locally of some of the service providers and we have to be aware of that as well. At times, Governments are blamed, but there are service providers that need to up their game.
My colleague Senator Nelson Murray has asked me to raise another issue, so if the Minister of State does not mind, I will raise it directly with her. It relates to the July provision and the access and inclusion model, AIM. July provisions, when assessed, are a great support for families and the clients. However, like everything with disabilities, some children cannot access them and there are long waiting lists. Senator Nelson Murray spoke directly to the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, which suggested that perhaps the childcare sector can help with July provisions by enabling more children to take part in the July provisions. Their places of work are closed during the summer months but the providers can usually sign on for social welfare, so they are quite willing to provide supports to children with needs.
Second, when it comes to the AIM, why not extend the programme to include children up to three years old? The AIM is a super programme that goes through the ECCE scheme. We know from the research that intervention is likely to be more effective when it is provided earlier in life rather than later. The connections in a baby's brain are most adaptable in the first three years of life. These connections, also called neural circuits, are the foundation for learning behaviour and health.
If early childhood care providers are willing to help with providing support for children with additional needs, is that not an opportunity we should grab with both hands? That is thinking outside the box. Early childhood care providers who are ordinarily out of work in the summer and have to sign on are potentially willing to get involved in caring for those with disabilities.
I hope the Minister of State takes what I am saying in good faith. I look forward to what she is planning to do with the respite sector. It needs an element of work. I look forward to working with her during my years in the Chamber. We do this work honestly and diligently because we have to. One of the mothers in the respite group I deal with said to me lately that I am brave to talk about the area of disability. It is our job. That is why we are all here speaking about disability today. We want to see success. I wish the Minister of State well in her work ahead.
I thank the Minister of State, welcome her to the Chamber, congratulate her on her appointment and recognise the work she and her officials did with me on highlighting the need for more speech and language therapists in the town of New Ross. That is appreciated and it is hoped we will have further good news in that area shortly.
I highlight again what has been highlighted already, which is the shortage of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, especially for children when it comes to the assessment of need and making sure children in need of a diagnosis and subsequently given a diagnosis are in a position to access treatment promptly. I welcome the creation of the Minister of State's new role at Cabinet with the purpose of driving forward delivery. It is so important for the people of Wexford I represent and people throughout the country who have raised the need for greater investment in the area and greater access to services. I particularly highlight the goal in the programme for Government to double the number of college placements for speech and language, physios, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. It is important, if we are to have a pipeline of people to take up these positions when they became available, funded by the HSE, that there are trained professionals in a position to take them up. I recognise the 17% increase in CDNTs from October 2023 to October 2024 but, as the Minister of State knows well, we have much further to go in that area.
I want to highlight the area of people with disabilities accessing education at secondary school level, going on to third level and then into the workforce. I recognise the programme for Government's commitment in this area. As has been pointed out in this debate, when we have the lowest workforce participation rate for people with disabilities across the EU at a time of virtually full employment in the country, much more can be done. It is not only supports for people with disabilities to access a job but also to assist employers in their responsibilities when taking on people with disabilities. We cannot put a ceiling on the ambition of people with disabilities simply because they have a disability. They should be encouraged and supported to be active participants in the workforce at every opportunity. With the Minister of State's focus on the issue, we can see real and tangible results very soon.
A point made earlier concerned the ability of people with disabilities to access the public transport system. A constituent contacted me last week who stated it is very difficult for her with her blindness to access the new Local Link services because they are not fully accessible for people with disabilities. It is fantastic we now have a service operating seven days a week from Enniscorthy to Wexford town through rural villages in the heartland of my constituency, but it is important that bus service has wheelchair accessibility and is available to people with disabilities. The point she highlighted was that, in the past, because of concerns with insurance and claims if something were to happen, bus drivers, through no fault of their own, were actively discouraged from assisting people with disabilities for fear there would be a claim were there to be an accident or a fall. We need to resolve that issue. I urge the Minister of State to get directly involved in that. If we are to support Local Link services, we should create an environment where people with disabilities can access Local Link and public transport freely and safely.
The programme for Government commits to reviewing the enduring power of attorney situation. As a practising solicitor, I share the concerns the Law Society has raised about the ability of people to access and create an enduring power of attorney. The society raised the startling statistic that, in 2023, before the new system for registering an enduring power of attorney was created, we had 1,245 powers of attorney registered. In the first six months of 2024, the last period for which statistics were published, only ten were created. I am well aware of the difficulties in the area. It is flawed legislation. There needs to be a designated solicitors' portal. I encourage the Minister of State, like her predecessor, to work with the Law Society in that area. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
I thank all Senators for their constructive contributions. I have taken note of them and will take them on board. I look forward to coming back and working with Senators in the coming weeks and months, especially on the national disability strategy as we roll it out, to make sure we have a whole-of-government response.
We are absolutely committed to ensuring people with disabilities live full lives with the same rights; access to services, education, transport, culture and careers; and means to live independently that all other citizens enjoy. The many commitments made in the programme for Government highlight the step change in approach to disability services provision. I look further to working with Senators and to working on some of the ideas raised in the debate.
Since being appointed Minister of State with responsibility for disability, I have made it a priority to visit services. I will continue to do that. I want to see what works well and what does not work so well, to get the feedback and feed it up the line, and to sit down with advocacy groups and hear their views on how we move forward. It is only by listening and seeking to understand the lived experience of people with disabilities that we will truly understand what is happening on the ground, which will help us deliver the reforms we really need to improve services and deliver on our ambition.
I have regularly expressed my commitment to implementing changes that will have a real impact as well as helping to oversee reform in the sector. A demonstration of this commitment is the fact that I, as Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, sit at the Cabinet table, where I join my colleague, the Minister, Norma Foley. This will ensure the voices of disabled people will be across every Government decision. We are both committed to delivering change in tandem with colleagues across Departments. The Cabinet committee on disability will be retained by this Government. Along with the new disability unit that will be established in the Department of the Taoiseach, this will form the basis of a whole-of-government step change in approach to service improvement and delivery. By putting disability at the centre of Government, we will expand and reform the services to maximise people's independence and support people with disabilities.
As has been outlined already, census 2022 told us 22% of the population, or approximately 1.1 million people, have a disability. Most are supported via mainstream health and social care services. The Department funds, via the HSE, specialist community-based disability services which are designed for the 60,000 people with a significant intellectual disability, autism or a complex physical disability. These services include multidisciplinary therapies for children or adults, adult day services, personal assistance, home support, respite and residential services. As I stated earlier, €3.2 billion has been allocated for HSE disability services in budget 2025. While the overall budget has increased by €1.2 billion since 2020, we appreciate much more is needed. We must invest more in services, personal assistance, home support hours and other supports for people to continue living independently in their own homes. Our capital spending must increase and, crucially, we must provide more therapists in order to improve access to services.
The programme for Government commits to doubling the number of college places for speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, psychologists and social workers. An additional 150 places were provided last September as a first step in this process. These professionals are highly sought after nationally and internationally, with an array of career opportunities available to them. In July 2024, the Government approved the prioritisation of funding to support the expansion of training places in priority healthcare areas, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Increasing the number of graduate therapists year on year will be key to meeting the demands of the disability sector. We will engage with relevant Departments to support the work in 2025.
In addition, encouraging students to undertake placements in disability services is vital to increasing the disabilities workforce. This will expose more students to the challenging, impactful and rewarding nature of working in the disability sector. It will encourage them to take up full-time positions on graduation. The recruitment and retention of staff is a real challenge across the sector overall and is a significant priority for the Government, in particular filling vacancies in 93 CDNTs.
The Government will also facilitate the continuation of the assessment of need waiting list initiative, enabling the procurement of private assessment for families who have been waiting for a long time, with €10 million in funding allocated for 2025 to deliver 2,850 assessments of need and to allow for additional capacity in the assessment teams in the form of assessment and liaison officers.
It is worth noting again that one of the most important pieces of work underway is the development of the national disability strategy. The development of that strategy is at a very advanced stage, with publication expected in the coming months. The next national strategy will operate as a framework for the co-ordination of disability policy across Government, ensuring a whole-of-Government approach to the advancement of the UNCRPD and collaboration on crosscutting issues. Advocacy groups have been extensively involved in the development of that strategy and officials from a range of Departments and stakeholders, including disabled people's organisations, DPOs, met in the Department a few weeks ago to discuss the next steps.
In working across Government, including with colleagues in the Departments of the Taoiseach and Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to develop our commitments and the development of the strategy, the role of local authority decision-making has emerged as a consistent theme. Many issues raised by Senators today come back to local authorities, which will be a focus for me as Minister of State with responsibility for this area. As the Department leads on the finalisation phase of the development, it will therefore be critical that local government be involved in the development of monitoring and documenting these actions. While acknowledging the independence of local authorities as autonomous legal entities and, therefore, the challenges inherent in co-ordination across jurisdictions, the national disability strategy will examine opportunities to enhance co-ordination and showcase examples of best practice to advance the implementation of the UNCRPD at local level. Again, I would welcome any examples Senators have in their local areas and local authorities of what works really well. I want to see that replicated across the country.
We will progress the action plan for disabilities services. We have set ambitious targets in the plan to provide for unmet need and demographic change. This ambition is important to generate commitment to the vision we have for disability services in Ireland. While I highlighted the strong financial support of approximately €130 million in new development funding, which has led to service expansion, I fully appreciate that more is needed and I will work with colleagues during the Estimates process to try to secure funding for services we need.
At EU level, there are a number of positive initiatives in development, including the EU disability card. In one way, this will function as a European parking card, which will be very helpful for Irish people with disabilities who wish to park in disabled access spaces abroad and for tourists with disabilities who visit Ireland. I am proud that Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU between July and December next year. Planning is ongoing with the disability division to identify areas of focus for the Presidency in the specific context of disability, aligning with Ireland's domestic priorities and the priorities contained in the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030.
I have listened carefully to the contributions of Senators today. I will take them away for consideration. I am fully committed to listening to and engaging with Senators and taking advice from any quarter, whether from colleagues across Leinster House, advocacy groups, DPOs, families and individuals with lived experience or experts in the field. It is only by understanding that lived experience that I can make sure that we get the policy right. I thank Senators for inviting me here today and I look forward to working with them.
I thank the Minister of State for her time. When is it proposed to sit again?
At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar athló ar 8.35 p.m. go dtí 10.30 a.m., Dé Céadaoin, an 9 Aibreán 2025.
The Seanad adjourned at 8.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 9 April 2025.