Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Daly. Ms Weldon has pointed out in the Teams chat that many disabled persons have a third level education yet cannot secure employment, which is an important observation.

As no other members are indicating, Ms Weldon wishes to contribute. I also wish to invite Ms Phelan to contribute, after which I will ask any of the other witnesses who would like to make a final set of points to contribute. I might ask them to focus particularly on recommendation No. 12 of the Citizens' Assembly, which was about lifelong care for persons with disabilities and stated that there should not be any break in the services provided, or any need to reapply for support, when a person turns 18 years of age. What specific measures should we be recommending as a way of implementing this recommendation? Interestingly, quite a number of the witnesses have focused on the other break point of 65 years and the sudden difference in measures when someone reaches that age. That is a valuable point that we have taken on board. Is there a practical response to recommendation No. 12?

I invite Ms Weldon, Ms Phelan and then any of the other witnesses who would like to make final observations on any of the points we have raised or anything they believe we should have considered but did not today.