Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of the delivery of services to the disability sector is getting attention now. It needs attention urgently. For example, parents of adults with disabilities worry about what will happen afterwards. On whom can they rely for a service? The issue of decongregation is increasing their concerns. They have become accustomed to living and working in a community with support services available to them - sheltered accommodation effectively. The needs may vary greatly between one individual and another. We know this has been provided for. If two parents are available in the household, it is a huge strain in any event. If there is only one parent to do the minding it is huge problem and they have great difficulties. If it is a lone parent, they have to put their lives on hold with obvious consequences later when it comes to pension age etc. It means they cannot work. They have no independence.

The degree to which respite is available is a help. It is not available to the extent that meets all eventualities and we need to look at that. Most of the parents want to have their child or young adult at home as much as possible but they need to be reassured as to the availability of appropriate residential care in the event of them becoming ill, including something sudden like the 'flu, for example, which can appear without warning.

I have come across cases, as I am sure other members have, where those delivering the service identify a person as suitable for relocation into the community given that he or she is self-sufficient to a certain extent and may be able to travel on the bus, for example. It does not always happen that way and sometimes those assessments are incorrect and err on the side, to my mind, of reducing the dependence on the service or whatever. That should not be the case. It should simply relate to the degree to which the person with disabilities requires support and not the degree to which support is available.

We have all seen cases of people who have dedicated their lives to caring for a loved one with a disability. It is a great thing to see but it is not exactly fair. It may not be fair to the person with the disability either in situations where the resources get stretched where the health of the parents or relatives gets stretched or whatever the case may be. I wish to emphasise those points.