Ms Derval McDonagh:

Our legislation and policy do not help us, to call a spade a spade. Under the Disability Act, people have a right to an assessment of their needs but absolutely no right to services. That is a major issue in Ireland. Nevertheless, the plan is the big thing we need to see for people. The Senator mentioned the 1,300 people in nursing homes and asked whether that figure is static. It seems to have been around the same number in recent years but I do not know whether they are the same people. Some people leave and come back in through another door. A plan for that is in place and a group is looking to address it, but even if we look at what was budgeted for in budget 2022 for this considerable issue, it would take 30 years for 1,300 people to move out under that budget. That is 30 years of more wasted lives.

We need to take that seriously. A fully costed plan is needed, and it needs to be rights-compliant and focused on individuals and how they want to live their lives. Some people want to stay living at home with their families for the rest of their lives. That is absolutely fine as long as families get the support and the individuals get the support to do that and make that decision. Right now, the options are so limited and it all comes down to responding in a crisis, when it is too late and we are inflicting further trauma on people. People are waiting for that crisis. They are living their whole lives waiting for that crisis to happen. That is no way to live.