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

I find it quite disturbing that September is the date and it is being pushed out further. Many restrictions were lifted and services returned on 29 June. Our most vulnerable citizens deserve better than this. This is something I will raise with the Minister.

Congregated settings were also mentioned. According to Inclusion Ireland’s report, 1,500 people are living in nursing homes, not even in residential care, who are aged under 65. My colleague Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne from Clare raise the case of Jennifer Hynes who is only 42 and is living in a nursing home in Ennis and has been quite vocal in highlighting her case. There are 1,500 other people also in unsuitable placements because of lack of housing, which is a significant issue. Have the organisations been given any commitment on moving this forward and providing more independent living for people with intellectual disabilities and disabilities in general?

Many older parents are taking care of their child with intellectual disabilities, where the child could be 30, 40, or 50 years of age. Are there any plans relating to independent living for those people, when unfortunately, the day will come when their parents will pass away?