Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for being here. It is great to have such a wide range of views and so much information at the committee. I will start with Inclusion Ireland. It is over a decade since the report, Time to Move on from Congregated Settings, was published and there are still over 4,000 people in these settings according to the working group. A recent HIQA report established that "most residents who lived in congregated settings did not have the same supports in place to help them exercise and enjoy their human rights." Similarly, the Ombudsman's report into the 1,300 people under 65 years who are living in nursing homes identified systemic issues and negative impacts, including financial challenges, disregard of the will of patients and poor quality of life. Based on these and other contributions, this committee has called for the implementation of the Time to Move on from Congregated Settings recommendations and the introduction of a statutory right to independent living.

The case of 1,500 people with intellectual disabilities living with primary carers who themselves are over 70 years of age, approximately 485 of whom are aged over 80, was mentioned. Sometimes when a family carer dies these individuals are forced into a nursing home without any choice, control or transition plan at one of the most difficult times in their lives. Besides that clearly being wrong and inhumane, it is a clear breach of their rights. Could we hear more about that type of practice and its impacts?

Mr. Alford's story was interesting. I thank him for sharing it with us, which he should not have to do. He demonstrated how basic freedoms and dignities that we take for granted were denied to him in those settings. If he is comfortable with doing so, could he tell us more about he difference that independent living made to him? He mentioned that his family did not necessarily want that at the time. We hear from different families, parents and carers all the time. People often try to do the right thing but it is not necessarily the right thing for the individual who they are trying to help. That is a complex and layered issue we often deal with in this committee. I am interested in hearing Mr. Alford's insights into that and how he navigated it, or any advice he might have for somebody else.

I will ask questions of the National Advocacy Service and Acquired Brain Injury Ireland afterwards if there is time.