Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters

Housing Policy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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

I welcome the Minister of State to the committee. He may be aware that the remit of the committee is to ensure that all Departments adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to implement it. Article 19 of the convention states:

Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their place of residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with others and are not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement.

However, to take the example of my county of Cavan, I am aware of at least five persons with disabilities who have been waiting more than ten years for housing. I know their situation is replicated across the country. It is a direct denial of people's right to live independently and it is in contravention of the UN convention.

Disabled people are being forced to live with ageing parents who are being expected to provide what sometimes is quite complex care for a son or daughter. That is not dignified for anyone concerned. Many ageing parents, often in their 70s or 80s, constantly worry about what will happen to their son or daughter when they pass. They fear their child will end up in a residential setting, possibly miles from home and family and without the proper level of suitable care. We have many documents that outline that this issue will be addressed but it has not been addressed thus far. I want to be fair to local authorities because I believe they are trying to address this issue but there is a lack of co-ordination between them and other agencies. What can be done to bring the HSE in particular on board to ensure that supported living is provided to people in these situations?

At one stage last summer, there were six families in County Cavan who were local authority tenants and needed a transfer or significant works done to their houses due to illness or an accident making their current accommodation unsuitable. They had to wait quite lengthy periods and either live in unsuitable accommodation, remain in hospital or go into a nursing home. How much money is made available to tackle emergencies such as these? I am sure such emergencies happen all over the country. I make that point without even broaching the issue of private home owners who need work carried out on their houses.

I do not expect an answer to my next question today, but I ask that one of the officials forward an answer in writing. Ireland has the lowest rate of employment in the EU for people with disabilities. What is the rate of employment of people with disabilities within the Department of the Minister of State and in each of the local authorities? Are there disability or access officers employed within the Department and local authorities? If so, how many of those people have lived experience of disability?

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