Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I am sure many of my questions have already been asked. One of my biggest concerns is that we were one of the last countries to ratify the convention and the optional protocol. I refer to the rate of poverty and social inclusion levels for people with disabilities as well. We are one of the highest levels in this regard in Europe, at 38.1%. The EU figures also show Ireland to be the country with the lowest employment rate for people with disabilities, at 32.3%. This is unacceptable. It is so unfair on the families and on the people with disabilities. How are we going to ensure that we are not in this position again?

I deal with families every day. I see children or adults with disabilities and the great challenges concerning their dignity and privacy. I am sure others have spoken about waiting times concerning occupational therapy or other services. People come into my clinic every day, including families and parents. As the Minister knows, timing is absolutely crucial when trying to get a child assessed at a very young age but this is just not happening. I am constantly contacting officials in CHO 05, and they can tell the Minister this, to ask if I can please get a child assessed, to inquire about what is happening in this regard and where we stand with the process. Those officials are telling me that part of the problem is recruitment and staffing issues. It is crucial to get a child assessed really quickly and to get the recommendations and therapies in place. I think we are actually going backwards instead of forwards with this. What does the Minister see happening here going forward? How are we going to get over these challenges? How are we going to help these children or elderly people? The previous speaker spoke about housing and working with the local authority and the Department and getting information. I do think everybody is doing their best, but there is no joined-up thinking and this is becoming a major issue.

In the past six months, I have dealt with at least three families where a mother has come into me and her child would be in an excellent school. We have excellent schools in Carlow, including the Holy Angels day care centre, St. Laserian's school and the Delta centre. We are privileged in this regard. We have the best of services and I can only compliment them all. I will refer to one mother, but there are also others I am dealing with. She had to give up her job to mind her child. Her husband was working. This meant she was €10 over the limit and so she was refused carer's allowance. This is just unacceptable. This should not even be a case of needing to apply. Her child is very severely affected and that woman, who gave up her job - a really good job by the way, and others have given up jobs too - cannot get the carer's allowance. The care of the child is a full-time job. The mother is delighted to do that and the child is treasured. That is not the issue here. I am sure, however, that everyone here comes across this issue. I am just saying to the Minister that there does not seem to be joined-up thinking between the different Departments, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Social Protection or the Minister's own Department.

Can we try to put some sort of a plan or strategy in place? This is where a start must be made. It must be at the beginning where families are being dealt with regularly. I refer to families impacted that need to get what they are looking for, the services and the money. It is not even the fact of the money, but these families have other outgoings, such as a large mortgage and car payments and they are also driving their children to school. These families are under great pressure because the Department will not give them the money because the payment is means tested. I am asking about this aspect in the context of the Minister's programme going forward, with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. I know how dedicated the Minister and the Minister of State are, but I just feel we are letting people, families and children down.

I brought up the other area I am concerned with in my first statement, namely the employment rate. Our employment rate for people with disabilities is very low. I ask the Minister to work on this issue and try to get some sort of programme together in this regard. I ask this because I know many people with disabilities who are in workplaces and very happy there. It is like a social outlet for them. They meet people, but many are not being given these opportunities anymore. I wonder, therefore, whether the Minister will also look at this aspect.

One of my other questions related to the implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 and why it was delayed. Can we get a commitment from the Minister in this regard? It is crucial that we get some commitment on the timescale involved. I know many issues need to be sorted out. We have to get all the details are right, but could the Minister in the next few months, or hopefully sooner than that, come back to us with a timeframe for when he thinks this will be done? Many people are asking about this. I know this is a new Department.

The Minister and Minister of State Deputy Rabbitte will work very well together. I am expecting great things from both of them. I ask that they listen to us. The Minister probably hears about this at his clinics. There is great anger among people who are trying so hard to work in the system they have but it is failing them. At the end of the day the only people we are failing are the children and the people with disabilities. I ask the Minister to come back to me on this.