Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Professor McCarron's presentation on future proofing to improve the life and longevity of persons with disabilities was very interesting and informative. I thank Dr. Burke and Dr. McGlinchey for appearing here today. I have met Dr. McMahon many times in Roscommon and Sligo over the years and we have discussed many topics. Today's topic is very important.

I want to focus on a few areas. The witnesses have said there have been significant achievements. We must take that into account. I was very fortunate to work with Mary Butler and Anne Rabbitte in the Department. They certainly "got it", for want of a better expression. Along with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, they were very committed. There are many great people, like the witnesses, out there who see this as a vocation. Our job is to assist as much as possible. I thank everyone for the great work they are doing.

The study on oral health and the stark inequalities mentioned by the witnesses struck me. I remember some 20 years ago trying to get an appointment for someone with a disability. Nobody seemed to be prepared to step up to the plate. I am disappointed to see that we are still not really addressing this issue. I know a lot has probably been done but to my mind it is the one downside we are looking at and we need to do an awful lot better. I do not know what can be done but somehow we need to get out of the morass of insurance difficulties or whatever. A few weeks ago we discussed the need for a dedicated team or service to address this. I think it is there but the report highlights that it is simply not good enough.

When we talk about disability awareness we can see that there has been a cultural shift in society. We need to see how people with disabilities are living independently and accessing healthcare and whether this can be initiated on a larger scale?

Will the witnesses discuss the needs of residents in group homes and people living independently who are growing older and the additional supports that aging makes necessary?

In my own area in Sligo we have St. Angela's College, which I am very proud is part of the Atlantic Technological University, ATU. We always say that it is the first university north of the Dublin-Galway line in the Twenty-six Counties and it is going from strength to strength. St. Angela's College provides certificate, postgraduate diploma and masters' courses in the area of disability. Can the witnesses elaborate on what is going on there and how we can assist and where exactly we can enhance opportunities for people getting onto these courses?

I think this will be the last meeting of the committee. The committee has been very united across the parties under the Chair and his assistants. When representatives of organisations have come before the committee they have been treated with dignity and respect. We have listened, which is what a committee should do. I thank my colleagues from the various parties and none for the work they have done. I also thank the witnesses for their work. Sometimes they do not get enough thanks and praise.

Sometimes when looking at social media, you would swear the world is falling down, but it is not. It is because of people such as the witnesses who are out there working hard to make people's lives better, including special people with disabilities. I thank them.