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

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach. I thank all the witnesses for their presentations. It has been informative and moving and has given me much to think about.

I could not agree more with Ms O'Toole. There is a substantial budget for disability services here. Although not enough, it is not only about the money; it is about how it is distributed. It is not getting to the people who need it.

We are ten years behind Australia in ratifying the UNCRPD, and it will take time to make the changes that are required. We cannot let time pass. This has to be done with a sense of urgency, and that is not happening. Persons with a disability must play an integral part in determining how the UNCRPD is implemented and how they would be allowed to live a fully independent life, and that cannot be done without a properly funded and functional advocacy service.

I am struck by what Dr. Simon Walsh and Ms Fiona Walsh have talked about here. Ms Walsh stated they do not qualify for overnight support. I cannot understand why they would not. Ms Walsh talked about the lack of supports that they receive for Zoe's care. Unfortunately, that is indicative of what we are hearing on the ground from many parents. The needs sometimes vary and they certainly might not be as much as Zoe needs, but we are hearing about parents who are waiting for assessment of need. When they get an assessment of need, they are put on another waiting list for early intervention. Their concern, as pointed out to me, is that the longer they have to wait for early intervention, the more it will cost down the line to deal with the different issues and it is not cost effective. It has been suggested to me that to deal with the existing backlog perhaps there should be a scheme such as the National Treatment Purchase Fund to clear the backlog and start afresh with a proper service.

We are being told that the progressing disability service model is the new model that is supposed to deliver all a child's needs in one place and I am anxious to hear what Ms Fiona Walsh's interpretation of that is. She mentioned the difference in services in Galway and Cork. That is what we are hearing on the ground. The services differ from place to place. That is not good enough. I would be interested to hear Ms Walsh's thoughts on the disability service.

Dr. Simon Walsh talked about how we have a wealth of experience in other countries, such as Irish people who are qualified therapists or even medical personnel, who would like to come back here. He stated it is not attractive for them to do so. What would make it attractive for them? Is it better pay or is it pay and conditions? How would we attract people back? We need them. We are hearing there is a shortage of therapists in all our disability services. There is a shortage of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists. Across the board, we need the people here if we are to provide a proper service.

The model we should aspire to is what is happening in Australia. Was the optional protocol ratified at the same time as the UNCRPD or afterwards in Australia, and has that made much of a difference? I am also wondering how people are assessed for the supports they receive in Australia. Do they apply and are they then assessed? Are there waiting lists for those assessments or how was that overcome? Were additional personnel put in?

We have many service providers who provide service for people, especially post secondary school. They may go into a service. Many of the services are of the one-size-fits-all type. There is very little around what the person needs. Some of the services are good but some are not. It is basically take what you get or there is nothing else on offer there. I wonder was there a structure in Australia. What happened to those service providers? What options are there for people post education? Are there other opportunities for training and education and for work as well?