John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Chair and I share the same constituency. We attended a meeting where many parents of young adults with disabilities and special needs were present. They talked about how those kids, adolescents and adults get lost in respect of their mental health needs. The disability piece is one element, but the parents spoke about how there are so few supports if they have a combined mental health challenge alongside their disability. One parent recently told me of bringing an adult and a child to a particular hospital, waiting for hours and hours for a mental health emergency only to be told that was not their hospital. This was in Dublin. This seems to be an unusual response. Can the witnesses respond regarding what kind of interventions or supports are available for people with special needs and disabilities and mental health needs?