Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their introductory contributions. I read the reports before the meeting. What I hear is that people in the disabilities sector have felt the brunt of austerity over the last number of years. I have had the privilege of meeting people like Dermot Walsh. I do not know whether the witnesses remember him. He lived in my constituency and was down knocking on the door every day to tell me what people in the sector wanted and needed. I have met other great activists, including Dr. Patricia McCarthy.

There seemed to be a move in the 1990s and early 2000s towards personal budgets. There was a big campaign then, but it was all pulled back during the austerity years. We have a situation where people in the general society are trying to pull back. I read an ESRI report on precarious employment which stated that one in four people is now in low-paid work. That trickles down to the disability sector in the context of trying to get access to the workplace and properly paid jobs.

I would certainly work with the committee and the witnesses on this but I want to raise an issue that we as a committee can maybe set up a one-stop-shop to move towards the areas of health and education because I cannot understand a situation where we know from birth, where people have a disability and people can develop disabilities after that. We know as a society what needs need to be met for people as they grow into education.

Another area I am concerned about is that even within the education services, in disability there are inequalities. Some areas can access them because they are getting more services and other areas are not getting the services. I am investigating that now with some parents regarding education centres. There are a lot of areas that need to be addressed but if we take two or three. The education guidance, the guidance counsellors and autism units would be very productive if we could concentrate on that and the idea of a passport in the area of health. Why is each child not given a passport on his or her disability and the services linked around that passport. I will certainly listen, take on board what people are saying and work with the committee on that.