Dr. Joanne McCarthy:

The Disability Federation of Ireland, DFI, knows across the organisation that there is an issue. For example, I know of what was previously called the Post Polio Support Group. As we know, polio has almost been fully eradicated except for those currently living with it but it is resurgent now because of people coming into Ireland with polio. The organisation has to rethink the services and supports it offers. I support my colleagues in saying that service-providing organisations definitely feel those issues on the front line. We work with a Dóchas working group on policy.

I ask the select committee to contact us if it would like further information on the interesting work we do with Dóchas.