Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Housing for People with a Disability: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of John DolanJohn Dolan (Independent)
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There are 1,300 people with disabilities in nursing homes. It is my understanding the profile shows that they are in their eighties. They are quite vulnerable and, on average, spend two years there. Whatever about those who need very specific and scaled up supports, places for people within that profile are not appropriate for younger people with disabilities. We are all a bit younger and know this innately.

I made a request of the delegates which I also make of the committee. Deputy Gino Kenny backed it up with the points he made about how we could countenance the idea of not having specific supports for children to allow them to live in their own home in the same way as their brothers and sisters. We have many challenges with footpaths and in all other places. The children are actually attending mainstream schools but cannot be free and easy in their own home. There can be lots of solutions, but the issue must be taken by the scruff of the neck. I look to the Chairman and the committee to underline it.