Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been listening intently to what has been said by the witnesses. For me as a public representative on the disability matters committee I often hear, and feel, the frustration that here we have something that can work, and will work, but is not being rolled out other than through the grace of God and a few pounds from the "Late Late Show" and a few other things like that. It seems ridiculous that we have an implementation tool to get services and supports to people. In my constituency in Galway East many of the parents who have children with disabilities find it frustrating that they cannot get the supports, they do not know where to go and do not know how to deal with the situation because they themselves are trying to come to terms with the fact that their child has a disability. There are many things going on in their minds.

I believe from listening this morning that we have a good opportunity here. As a committee we need to make sure that the Department understands what Parents Plus is at, that parents who will take on the role of counselling and helping other parents are not penalised with their carer's allowance being removed or anything like that. We are actually rolling out a service that everybody needs. Parents Plus knows how to do it and is articulating the way to do it. The concern for me is that as a committee we should be taking this forward to the Government to say "How can we fund this properly?" and make sure we are putting something in place that everybody needs. It is a crying need for every family with a child with a disability.

It is important that we hear what the witness is saying. Is there anything she wants to offer me in regard to giving guidance as to how the committee should present what she is doing in a way that will get the support to continue and to grow it in order that every family will know where it is at? I was struck by the remark that "a leaflet in the door does not solve the problems". That message is important to get across, that just getting a leaflet with something in it telling you how to do this, that or the other, is not enough. Huge interaction is required as well. Will someone give us a little more guidance on what we should say, as a committee and as members of the committee?