Mr. Gary Lee:

In response to Senator Colm Burke, this committee could do something practical.

Only one organisation in the State, HIQA, can get to the bottom of the inappropriate placement of people in nursing homes. HIQA can take thematic approaches, and it has done so on matters in the past. We would ask that HIQA take a thematic approach - take the inappropriate placement of people in nursing homes as a theme and get the facts and the figures. It is the only organisation that can do this. Perhaps the committee could make a recommendation along those lines as that would give us a clearer picture.

In the context of North Korea, believe it or not, last week was the first time a UN human rights monitor was allowed into that country. It was the special rapporteur on the rights of people with disabilities. She went there and provided a very diplomatic report afterwards. Members can look it up on the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD, website. I utterly accept the Senator's point in that regard. Nevertheless, Ireland should be leading the way. We should be ratifying it.

According to the Government's figures, there are more people waiting for PA hours than individuals who have access to such hours. There has been no investment in PA services since 2009. At a minimum, it should be doubled in order to address the waiting lists. It is the younger people who are having difficulties accessing PAs. They might have supports in terms of school and third-level education but after that they are on their own and they go to the back of the queue for PA services. As a result, it is very difficult for them to plug into life. Getting a job is even more difficult. There must be investment in PA and other support services that enable people to live in the community.