Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming and outlining their reports to us, which I have read in detail. Like many of my colleagues in Sinn Féin and Teachtaí Dála across the other political parties, I have been contacted by parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Some of these are adult children and day care services for them have been suspended since March. Many of them have not had any supports for four months, as our witnesses have outlined to us. They have informed us that there have been cases of anger outbursts, of people being withdrawn or frustrated and a lack of routine. An indication has been given that the services may return in August. That is very vague. Has the DFI or Inclusion Ireland been given a date for the return of full services and are they confident that a budget to meet the costs of providing the full services will be available? Costs should not compromise the service. A full service is required. Parents are very much in the dark about this, which is adding to their stress. Many of them have ended up being ill and under medication as well, which is not what we want to see. Many of the people we are talking about are high dependency and there are care packages in place for them but these are not being utilised at the moment. Has either organisation been given something more concrete than just a date in August?