Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank the witnesses for their presentations, particularly Reinhard and Joe for their personal testimony. It is a difficult thing to talk publicly about your own family but it is greatly appreciated that they have the courage to do that in trying to inform public thinking and get the best possible, not just for their families but for everybody affected by acquired brain injury. I thank them for attending and for their sincerity in the work they are trying to do.

Deputy Coveney mentioned that the HSE will have its funding allocated for next year. The HSE really needs to have that plan in place for 1 January 2025. My experience is that it would come out sometime in the middle of May and it would not be spent again. One project was costing €50,000 and, this morning, we got confirmation of something that was supposed to be sanctioned last January. That is totally unacceptable.

We will continue to work with the organisations. I thank them for their presentations. I thank the members who joined us in the Visitors Gallery, as well as the families who attended. I know there are people watching us at home who keep a very close eye on the proceedings of the disability committee and we appreciate their help as well.