Dr. Aideen Hartney:

There is little we can say by way of response to that. The Senator has clear examples of where the gaps in the system lie. Our part of the jigsaw is in providing the evidence and research, such as the Senator speaks of, to help the State plan for these situations. Some of the work we have done is about forecasting future need and we hope that a disability capacity action plan might be produced shortly to help the State in terms of planning to avoid some of those crisis situations and to address those gaps the Senator has talked about. On accountability, one thing we believe would be important for a new strategy is for those at the table on the departmental side to be senior decision makers in order that when they hear this kind of feedback from people with lived experience, they will be empowered to make decisions or collaborate with colleagues to find solutions, rather than simply reporting back at base and up the line.

I echo the point made by Ms Dempsey-Clifford. The money side of it is hugely important to adequately resource any interventions the State agrees on, rather than this requirement that it be done on a cost neutral basis or within existing budgets. We know that does not work. That part of the equation needs to be strong.