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

Parents tell us they have to continually fight for supports for their children, beginning when they are small and right through. As Mr. Brennan said, those supports should be available to encourage more people with disabilities to pursue further education. The supports have to be made easily available so that people do not have to fight for something they need. Going to third level is daunting enough for anyone. If someone has an additional need, supports should be available. Another matter that comes up regularly is the cost of disability, as we have just heard. Are HEAR and DARE provided with sufficient finance? Is there sufficient awareness of those programmes? Could more be done to highlight them?