Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates and those who have accompanied them. I also welcome those in the Visitors Gallery. As the Acting Chairman said, this is a landmark session and I am delighted that the deafblind community will be able to understand what is taking place.

All the contributions from all three witnesses are very important to ensure the committee members know exactly what deaf-blindness is and the witnesses have made a compelling case for recognising deaf-blindness as a unique disability. Ms Brill made a most powerful and touching presentation on behalf of the witnesses. I commend Ms English on the work she has done and the research she published in 2014, deaf-blindness in Ireland. I commend the Anne Sullivan Centre on the work it is and has been doing over the years in the area. The main focus of today's meeting is the question of recognition of deaf-blindness as a unique and distinct disability. As we heard in the presentations, it has already been recognised by the UK, EU and UN. I concur with Deputy Ó Caoláin that I am sure the committee will unanimously propose it to the Minister and Department. The committee works particularly well and is generally unanimous in its recommendations.

The number of people affected by deaf-blindness in my constituency, Tipperary South, took me aback. The census showed that 44 suffer from deafblindness and a further 246 have an additional disability. This is reflected in the national figures of 1,749 deafblind and approximately 10,300 with an additional disability. Do we know how many people will be affected in the future? It is important from the point of view of the services that need to be put in place. As Dr. Cummings said, the recognition of deaf-blindness as a unique and distinct disability is vitally important if we are to implement pathways to care and the various services needed by people with this disability. Ms Brill has clearly outlined the whole area of quality of life, or the lack thereof, of sufferers. If services are to be put in place, we need to recognise the disability and put in place pathways of care and recommendations for services that would need to be available. What sorts of services are available for people with this disability? Do the services reach all or most of the people affected? What services need to be put in place for the future including outreach and outpatient services and residential services?

Again, I thank the witnesses for their important and powerful contributions on the subject and I assure them that the committee and I will support their presentations and their call for recognition of deaf-blindness as a distinct disability.