Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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I welcome the witnesses. What they do and who they are is at the core of what we are supposed to be as a society, in protecting our young, less well-off and less able. I wish to ask a question about the WALK PEER programme, which is a brilliant idea on which I congratulate the witnesses. The witnesses said that almost 20% of those with intellectual disabilities finish school with primary education or less. That does not seem to be a very bad figure, or is it? I would have thought that it might be even higher.

The Carers Association annual report refers to the fact that the State is saving €4.7 billion through carers, who provide 900,000 hours of care. It also refers to 2,000 11 year old carers and 4,000 15 to 18 year old carers. Are they paid? How are they compensated? What happens to their educational structure? Are there any supports provided to them in this regard?

I congratulate Mr. Dunne on an extremely brilliant executive summary. I did a piece on carers on radio yesterday and I had read the annual report in advance of that. I lived with two families for two days in different caring situations. It really opened my eyes to the reality. The HSE really needs to walk the walk instead of talking the talk in that context. Everything Mr. Dunne said is so relevant. The witnesses have an awful lot to offer this committee and there is much we can do to help them in terms of the youth guarantee programme, educational gaps, grants and so forth. I ask the witnesses to address the question of the 11 to 18 year old carers and the aforementioned 20% figure.