Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I welcome Councillor Donna Sheridan from County Mayo, who is one of our local authority disability champions. Her interest is appreciated.

Today, I am meeting Carol Brill, who is chair of Usher Syndrome Ireland, which is commonly known as deafblindness. This is a life-altering condition that has unique needs. It affects between 260 people to 350 people in Ireland. Going back to 2015, Ms Brill came to Leinster House and spoke with the joint committee on health and children. At the time, they were seeking that deafblindness would be recognised as a unique disability. The committee under the Acting Chair, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, at the time, committed to writing to the then Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, seeking recognition of issues on the provision of hearing aids. There has not been any movement since 2015. It states in the UNCRPD that deafblindness has unique difficulties given its dual sensory loss. It impacts communication, inclusion, accessibility and equity given that its sufferers can experience tunnel vision, night blindness, hearing loss and balance issues. I am meeting them today. I understand the Minister of State might not be overly familiar with this but by recognising Usher syndrome as a unique diagnosis it would give people better access and tailored supports. It would also strengthen the case if they needed to bring any issues under the new optional protocol that we have ratified. Are there any plans to include this in the national disability strategy? Does the Minister of State have any general comments? I understand that I am springing this on her.