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

I thank all the witnesses. We have had an engaging meeting with many different viewpoints put forward. It has certainly given me considerable food for thought. I particularly commend Ms Fitzpatrick. She has given a very good account of representing her brother and other people like him. She has made us think that congregated settings may not all be bad. They need to be assessed individually. It comes down to choice and what is best for the individual. Different home circumstances suit different people. That needs to be taken into account. All individuals need to be treated with respect and given that choice. That is what is most important.

Reference has been made to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, which is important. We had an engagement on it two weeks ago and we have been told that it will be implemented next year. Let us hope that timeframe is kept to represent those who have difficulty communicating.

Many families in my constituency have come to me. They want their relatives to live independently in the community and have applied for social housing because they are not in a position to buy something for themselves. They end up being accepted onto the social housing list but may be left there for up to 13 years. When I contacted the local authority to ask why this is happening, I was told it was not getting the commitment from the HSE to provide the supports the person needs to live independently. It cannot commit to providing the housing. It reiterated that it had the budget to provide the housing and will do so but it needs the commitment from the HSE. The last thing it wants, which has happened in a number of areas, is to provide the physical housing and for it to remain empty for three years because the supports have not been given to the people who need them.

That is extremely important. Disabled people are also being forced to live with ageing parents who are not capable of caring for them, and should not have to do so. Disabled people want their independence and dignity and to live supported within their communities, but they are not being given the opportunity to do that. Time and again, when parents pass away the disabled person is put into a form of residential care that is not of their choice. That is heartbreaking because parents will have spent years worrying about what would happen to their disabled son or daughter when they passed.

Last week, we had an engagement on young people in nursing homes. The evidence shows that many of them were told that their placements were a temporary measure until proper housing could be sourced for them, but they had ended up spending years in institutions not of their choice. Some were forced into nursing homes and told the supports were not available to allow them to live in their own homes. That is sad. The bottom line is choice and making the right choice for the individual concerned. I have been also approached by people regarding family members who have been placed in a congregated setting and are very happy there, as well as having their needs met. The UNCRPD is about recognising people's right to choice and supporting them in that choice.

The argument I hear constantly from the HSE is that it does not have the funding to provide the supports to allow people to live independently. Professor McConkey mentioned that it costs more to house people in a residential setting or nursing home. I have asked often if that cost analysis has been done but I have never been given a direct answer. I would be interested in getting a comparison on costs in that regard.