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

I appreciate the responses and I understand the reconfiguration is important. As Mr. Hennessy said, sometimes allocation of staff for that reconfiguration falls short. In one very populous area there is 0.5 of a nurse or 0.5 of a physiotherapist allocated. The concern is that even when those reconfigurations happen, without the funding the Department decided was required, the people will be still on those waiting lists. When they finally are assessed they sometimes do not get the services they need. As a committee we will keep pushing for adequate funding to be allocated. We understand the pressure that puts on those network teams that try to provide a service and lack the resources. Another thing that was noted was poor supports that respect and enable individual's independence such as personal assistants and supported independent living, and somebody referenced the geographical lottery with respect to this. Whether a person can access independent supported living depends on the part of the country in which a person lives. This is a tricky question that was highlighted both in recent weeks and throughout the past year by several witnesses who came before the committee. Will the witness elaborate on how we can put in place a system that can guarantee independence in line with article 19 of the UNCPRD. That is a question for the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers.

The Neurological Alliance of Ireland highlighted the current shortage of services for neurological conditions and the increasing numbers of people affected by those conditions. Will the witness elaborate for the committee the impact on individuals of the lack of rehabilitation and support, especially in terms of employment and education?