Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late; I was unavoidably detained. I read Ms Cox's opening statement last night. Unfortunately, there was nothing in it I have not heard before. I apologise if I ask a question that has already been asked. Ms Cox has talked about respite. We as a party are bringing forward a motion this evening highlighting the fact that the provision of respite is declining. The level of provision of respite in 2022 was lower than in 2018. The level of provision has been in decline since 2008. We know how many families received respite in 2022 and 2018 but have we any idea how many are looking for respite? Is there any way of gauging that? I have heard from many families who are on a waiting list. In my own area, there is one facility between Cavan and Monaghan and it serves children one week and adults the next. A second place in Monaghan also provides some respite for adults. I must admit it provides a very good service. The services, where they are provided, are generally very good. In our motion, we are calling for deficits to be identified and addressed, and for a disability capacity review. We are still without an implementation plan. Respite is included in that, as are many other disability services. There is not yet an implementation plan for the national strategy for housing for disabled people. We have been promised it is imminent and will be delivered within weeks. That is what I was told two weeks ago but there is still no sign of it.

Ms Cox talked about all-family support for people with autism. We have a brilliant resource in the Middletown Centre for Autism, which does that in the North. Unfortunately, in the South there is only a pilot programme, even though it has been in place since 2007. The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, promised it would be expanded this year and I hope that will be the case. I know support is only provided to 12 children identified by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, compared with 60 in the North, even though there is a much higher population in the South. Are we talking about a situation whereby children are given supports in school and in the home, and also that the family is also given support? I think that would be very important.