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

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee today. Their experience and insight as service providers are essential to understanding how we improve disability supports, especially in the case where the majority of disability services are provided on behalf of the State by the voluntary sector. My first question is for the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers. If I have time afterwards, I have more questions. I welcome the acknowledgement of the unmet needs of children's services and the urgent need for multiannual investment. I raised these issues last week with the HSE and with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman. The disability services programme is currently failing due to a lack of staff and resources. Using my constituency as an example, although I am sure it is the case in many constituencies, we have worryingly long waiting lists for assessments, not to mention incredibly poor access to therapies. After assessment it may be that a year and a half later a person has only received an hour or two of those essential therapies. The federation is at the front line of a situation where it is caught between inadequate Government funding and the needs of children and young people with whom it works. The federation referenced the Department's capacity review, which says it all. The Department in its own review said we need €350 million to meet the unmet needs of people with disabilities, and then there was an additional €65 million allocated. Of course, it has not come close. Will the witness outline what needs to be done to address the issues in that area?