Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 24 June 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters

Younger People in Nursing Homes: Discussion

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have a quick follow-up query. A funding issue was referred to in explaining why only 18 people are part of this scheme, out of a total of more than 1,300 people. That issue needs to be rectified. This congregated settings issue arises repeatedly in the work of this committee. We are aware of the extent of this massive issue, but what is being proposed as a way to start addressing it is to move 18 people out of the 1,300 affected overall, and that is the minimum number of people living in these congregated settings who should not be there.

As a committee, we must stress to the representatives of the Department that we reject that approach. We need a much more urgent approach to be taken to address far more than just these 18 people. I acknowledge that Dr. MacLellan said that we must learn from the experience of these 18 people as we go along. However, we know, and we do not need to relearn, that we cannot leave people in these settings any longer. Therefore, urgency must be placed on getting more people out of these congregated settings, rather than undertaking a pilot project involving 18 people. We know these conditions are not suitable and we do not need a pilot study of the situation. We require a much more urgent approach concerning all the people living in these congregated settings.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.