Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Apologies for being late but I had to participate in a radio interview and speak in Leinster House. I managed to do it all very badly but I got it done.

I have not had the chance to address Mr. Walsh, Mr. Sherwin and Ms Quigley. This issue has been raised with me. As much as we are all delighted with what Cara Darmody has done, and where there is a whole focus on delivering in the field of autism and where assessments meet therapies, we all know that when we are talking about disabilities that there is a huge raft of things that needs to be dealt with. To a degree, when the focus is there, as much as there is abject failure, on the basis of that failure we are literally not addressing the other issues. I say that because any of the organisations that I have spoken to have said that.

I have a question, which I am sure has been answered, on the co-creation blueprint and the framework that is needed. The example that I was given was the council and the idea that it is fine to have accessibility officers but unless they are given the powers, and there is a conversation across the entire remit of the council, then it is a whole pile of nothing. There are good and bad examples which brings us back to idea of pilots. The issue is around where we go now. It is probably an element of the idea Mr. Walsh had. We are talking about from the cradle to the grave so it is the personalised budget and what can be done.

This committee has a piece of work to do to follow on thematically as sometimes we will have to deal with the shortfall when it comes to social protection, health and whatever. We will have to try to cover as much of that gambit as possible.