Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Reynolds and her team for coming here. St. Michael's House has a vision of a society in which people of every ability can live the life of their choosing, a rights-based approach, which is the right approach. It covers a wide range of different areas. In my experience, St. Michael's House does a marvellous job in a very difficult area.

I was curious about the reference to the growing and ageing population. Are we ready for that? Do we have the necessary resources to deal with it? What resources do we require? I want to get an idea of where we are in that regard.

St. Michael's House is the patron of six national schools and one satellite school in north and south Dublin. How can education and health work better together? What protocols are in place for these sectors to work together?

We heard how five schools are involved in the capital development projects. I am curious about that. I know that St. Michael's House was building six extra rooms at its facility on the Ballymun Road for respite and residential. I do not know what point that project has reached because it is a while since I checked. Ms Reynolds might fill me in on that.

The complaints procedure seems to be a problem for individuals and their rights. If a local complaints procedure does not work, the issues cannot go forward to an independent arbitrator which is difficult for some people. How does that procedure work?

There is a lack of staff for the CDNT. Did the ban on recruitment have any effect? St. Michael’s House is a section 38 organisation and its workers are classed as public servants. I do not know if the ban had any effect so I am curious about that.

In June 2023, an issue arose when 13 young adults were offered places and that decision was later rescinded due to a lack of staff and suitable facilities and a long waiting list. That was the argument made at the time. Has that been addressed? Is it possible that similar issues will arise again?