Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. O'Reilly and Ms Kenny. I cannot say I enjoyed their testimony because it was heartbreaking. Incredible and powerful advocates are again appearing before us, for which I thank them. They have laid the hard truths out in front of us. We all encounter these cases in our constituencies, with people coming to our offices and talking to us, but it was powerful to hear today's testimonies and important to have them on the record.

When I was a member of Louth County Council, I was glad to propose the PA services motion and get it passed. I worked with many Fianna Fáil colleagues from around the country on ensuring that the motion was passed in the final few counties. I believe that all county councils have now passed it, although we still need to hear back from a few on whether that is the case. It is important that they pass it.

I do not have questions, but I will make a few points following on from the testimonies and conversations. This is a struggle. People with disabilities are constantly fighting. It is soul destroying. That is what the services are doing to them and their families. I ask the Chairman for some action to come from today's meeting, particularly in respect of PA services. Could we get an official from the HSE to appear before us to discuss why PA services are not regulated, why there is a different system in each CHO area and why it is down to each disability manager to design a service? The service is not working efficiently or effectively for people. It would be important to have a HSE manager of whom we could ask these questions appear before us. I am glad to see that more money has been made available in this budget. We need to ensure that it is used for actual PA services and not, as Mr. O'Reilly mentioned, administration. The latter cannot be allowed to happen. The Minister of State with responsibility for disability fought hard to get extra money for PA services in her budget.

Turning to a second action, we might also have a HSE manager appear before us to discuss why the system is so inflexible. Ms Kenny referred to a ten-minute journey versus a 30-minute one for her children to go to school. That is ludicrous. There is an inflexible "computer says no" attitude, but we are not dealing with computers. We are dealing with humans, and our citizens who use and require these services deserve flexibility. This committee has heard testimony every week about our rigid system. We need to start questioning the people who deliver the services, namely, the HSE.

If Mr. O'Reilly or Ms Kenny have comments to make on my suggestions, I would appreciate hearing their thoughts. I have learned a great deal this morning and I thank them for their time.