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

I thank the witnesses for attending the committee meeting today. It has been both informative and infuriating to hear from the different witnesses. I am particularly struck by the statement of Dr. Walsh and Ms Walsh. Being a Cork Deputy, I can attest to that. There is nothing my office is contacted about more than the absolute absence of support services in the area. They spoke about the absence of kindergarten services in Cork city. In all of Cork South-West, south of the city, there is not one special school. It is a constant issue and one this committee has heard about continually. Dr. Walsh mentioned that they are fortunate enough to be able to pay. We speak to many families who just cannot pay and their children are not getting the services they need. The early intervention is so important. We are talking about how to do this, and asking questions and scratching our heads as to how we go about it, but we need to call a spade a spade as well. Dr. Walsh clearly mentioned that progressing disability services is a failure. I said that straight out to representatives of the HSE at one of our meetings - I think it was last week. People are not getting the services they need.

If we want to look at how we should go about addressing this issue, there is an obvious first step, which is funding it. The Department's capacity review stated that €350 million is needed to meet the unmet needs of people with disabilities in this country. There was an additional €65 million in the budget, so there is no actual intention. Mr. Broadhead spoke about how Australia ratified the UNCRPD a year after it was introduced. It took Ireland ten years to do so, which is disgraceful, and we still have not ratified the optional protocol which obliges the state to allow people to exercise their rights. We have to be more upfront about the reality of the situation here. It comes down to political will, and that must change. Mr. Broadhead spoke about creating awareness in Australia and the public wanting it. The public in Ireland absolutely want it. One can see that by virtue of the fact that where the State abdicates responsibility one sees the general public often swooping in with fundraisers and not-for-profit organisations trying to support families and individuals. There is certainly the public will; we just need the political will and the funding. The country can afford it.

The comparison between Cork and Galway is stark. Even more stark is the comparison between Australia and Ireland. Having worked abroad in disability support services, I have to say that it is not just Australia. When I was working in Malta the service I was working with had daily access to speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, equine therapy, hydrotherapy and art therapy. The list goes on. It is about encouraging people to live independently, but here one cannot even get an hour of speech and language therapy. I am sorry for going on, Chairman.

As to my questions, because of the ones addressed by previous speakers I will direct my questions mainly to the representatives of the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities. I hear many positive reports about the service it provides and it would be useful for the committee to learn a little more about that. Perhaps the witnesses could give us a sense of its work. One of the clearest and most worrying points raised before this committee is that individuals and families have to fight repeatedly for basic health, education, transport and care services. As well as it being simply wrong that people have to do that, it also implies that people have the capacity and means to struggle for services. It would be useful for the committee to understand the vital service provided by the National Advocacy Service, the issues it helps individuals with and how long it can take to resolve those cases. Ms Loughlin mentioned in her opening statement the reality that there will be more people living with disabilities in the future. How will the service be able to cater for the accompanying increased demand? How many advocates are there nationally? Is there an estimate of how many more will be needed to reach international best practice?

Ms Loughlin also highlighted eradicating the practice of next-of-kin consent. It has no legal basis except in certain circumstances, yet NAS advocates encounter it in different settings. Can she elaborate on that for the committee so we can have a better understanding?

Finally, Ms Loughlin specifically discussed the disgraceful situation of over 1,300 people under 65 years old who are forced to live in nursing homes because the State is not providing independent supported living. I am aware of situations in my constituency where people are forced to be in a psychiatric ward because there is no opportunity for any type of independent supported living. Can Ms Loughlin describe the issues advocates have encountered and the rights they have helped individuals fight for?