Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions from my own point of view. Would someone like to refer to personalised budgets and how they might be progressed? From my experience in general practice, parents and patients have expressed the view that they could get much better value for money. They said if they looked after their own budget they could choose their own services and have services delivered much more conveniently and cost effectively.

I have encountered problems where adolescents transitioned to adulthood and there was a lack of respite services available to them or there was difficulty in accessing respite services. When we were discussing the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Dáil, not all the provisions of the Act were available to us. We were told they would be delivered on Committee Stage. One of the areas concerned accommodation. Mr. Lennon referred to that issue but perhaps he could outline it again.

I also have a question for Dr. McDaid. There were 172 recommendations in the review of the Mental Health Act 2001. We dealt with one a few weeks ago in respect of Deputy Browne's Bill. Could Dr. McDaid indicate three of the priority issues among the 172?