Mr. Damien Douglas:

To clarify, sometimes we need equipment such a wheelchair van, and some people see that as a luxury. However, they are vital necessities. Whether it is Mercedes or a Ford Kombi that one gets converted, one needs it because without it one's children will not go out. Try to get onto a double-decker bus with two wheelchairs to travel from Lucan to Dublin - it will not happen. One needs that. They are seen as lovely vehicles, and they are because they have to be comfortable, but they cost a huge amount of money in addition to money to get them adapted for one's needs. They cost huge money to run as well. They are not luxuries, but vital necessities to have any kind of quality of life and to get out. For ourselves, the girls are lucky now to have day services, but there is no transport provided. We have to bring them up and down every day. We have to have that for them. One cannot depend on CIE, Dublin Bus or anyone else to do that.