Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I know the Vice Chairman's position quite well. I thank Senator Buttimer for his comments and support. The issue of accessibility and isolation is huge and I totally agree with him. If we dig deeper within the disability community, particularly those with physical disabilities but also the visually impaired or deaf - I have spent time with the deaf community over the past number of months - the sense of isolation is absolutely terrible. Broader society does not seem to get it. I have spent my life trying to bring people, in both Houses and the Cabinet, to get it. The issue of isolation is extremely important. If we talk about improving people's lives, we have to ensure that issue is addressed.

I can guarantee that there will be a strong dimension from the Department of Health in the national disability inclusion strategy, as well as from the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, with regard to mental health issues. The 4,700 people mentioned will continue to get €208.50 per month.

In response to Senator Buttimer's question, the motorised transport scheme has been gone since 2013. I know that the Chair does not want me to spend too much time talking about full participation and the respite issue mentioned by the Senator. The problem I face here is that I have to make choices. If I were offered €15 million to make some sort of progress on the motorised transport scheme, or else €15 million for emergency residential places, or else €10 million or even €6 million, then I would have to make choices. These are choices that we regularly have to make. We have this debate in the Department every single week. In fact, I had one such discussion just before I came down to this meeting when I had the HSE and the Department of Health in to talk about funding. This is a matter of making choices, and as I mentioned to Deputy Cassells, there are financial limitations and I find myself in very difficult situations. I generally come down on the side of whoever I consider to be the most needy, which family is in a crisis, and which service needs support. Respite services and emergency residential places need support.

I cannot get into any broader debate about HIQA, although I totally accept the HIQA standards ruling. It is independent of the Minister, as the committee knows. There is a broader debate about this in society. I meet HIQA representatives regularly and remain in close contact with the authority, just as I meet HSE and Department of Health officials. There is regular contact between all of us and we are listening to the points raised by the committee. We need to ensure that common sense prevails in the management and development of services. I live with a daughter who has an intellectual disability and I am always very conscious when I go home that we do not have big red signs marking special fire doors and handles and so forth. Ours is a private home, but I am very conscious of this. I visit services throughout the country that are trying to operate according to the ethos of bringing people out of institutions and into smaller settings which are as homely as possible and have a maximum of four or five people per residential unit. That answers that question.

In response to the question about savings, there have been no savings because we continue to pay €9.3 million out annually to the 4,700 people mentioned.

In response to the final question, I am not aware of any scheme for the conversion of cars.