Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Joint Meeting of the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Joint Committee on Education and Skills and Joint Committee on Health
Supports for People with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed)

12:00 pm

Photo of Margaret Murphy O'MahonyMargaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Co-Chairman on getting the three committees together. It was a very good idea and it is something with which we should move forward. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee to share their very personal experiences with us. It is great to see that they are all in a good place and that positivity is radiating out of them. They have all done well.

I am the disability spokesperson for Fianna Fáil and, as such, I deal with people with disabilities on a regular basis.

Fear of the loss of a medical card is the issue raised most regularly with me when I talk to persons with disabilities and their families. It reminds me of a bird whose wings are caught. People with huge potential are afraid to seek promotion at work or to get a good degree or complete a course that would lead to a good job because of the constant fear of losing a medical card. I have raised the issue with the Minister, Deputy Harris, in both the Dáil and at the health committee and he has said he is aware of the issue and will look at it. We must watch that going forward.

I note what Ms Daly said about the PA being employed by her rather than by her employer. It is a very good point. It is something employers fear in that it is not clarified. As Deputy O'Loughlin said, it would be a good idea to bring employers to the joint committee to clarify the things they are unsure about. It might be new to them also.

Can the witnesses confirm that there is no career guidance at all in special schools?

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