Mark Wall (Labour)
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I welcome Mr. Hession, Ms Hurley and Ms Conroy this morning. I thank them for being with us. Deputy Tully touched on much of what I want to cover but one of the big issues for us over the past number of weeks and months since we started was the cost of having a loved one with autism. That is something we want to touch on again today and ask a couple of questions.

I also want to talk about employability. Deputy Tully outlined the concerns and the Chair indicated the 85% who are underemployed or not employed, of which AsIAm has informed us. It is something I come across on a regular basis in my work in County Kildare.

To start with employability services, I am very much aware of the EmployAbility service in Kildare and the great work it does. I have dealt with it with a number of families. The initial contact comes through an Intreo office but when one is contacted by a family, it is very easy to make a telephone call and get in contact with the service. I thank its representatives for their services and help with that.

I am aware that many of the EmployAbility services throughout the State have concerns at the moment that they may be going to public tender in January. We have seen this with other schemes and the concerns they had. I share the concerns the EmployAbility services have at the moment, about which I have spoken to them, about losing that local contact and the great service they provide. Ms Hurley might comment on that. What plan does the Department have? Why are we putting such a good service to public tender? Given its value as a social service and a local service, why do we need to go to public tender with that service?

A number of people have contacted me about early engagement over the last number of weeks, particularly around disability allowance. When somebody whose loved one has autism receives a letter from the Department, there is an immediate concern as to what that means for them. I know that is being spoken about on a voluntary basis but maybe Ms Hurley could expand on the specially designed letter she spoke about. That is something that has come back to me. I get calls from families telling me they have received a brown envelope with a letter from the Department that is talking about activation and employment, which causes concern. Have lessons been learned from the 18 to 22-year-olds about which Ms Hurley spoke in order that when that is expanded to other age cohorts, there is not that fear many people have had on receiving that letter?

We spoke previously about the community welfare service when Mr. Hession last appeared before the committee. One of the issues we have raised at this committee is the rising cost of assessment of need and delays on it. I will ask Mr. Hession again about a community welfare officer helping with that assessment of need. Many families with whom I deal at the moment have to go to credit unions etc. Is there a way that the community welfare service, through the Department's own offices, can help families with assessment of need? It really is getting much more expensive and families are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for it with the rising costs.

Mr. Hession also spoke about a workplace adaptation grant. I raised housing adaptation grants with him previously. I asked him the last time he appeared before the committee about the community welfare service helping families who cannot afford that gap with rising building costs. That is happening. We are still waiting on a report from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to the grant it offers. I will ask again whether the community welfare service can help by bridging that gap. I am dealing with families with loved ones who cannot build an extra room or convert an attic because they simply cannot afford it. That is a huge problem for families.

One of the issues we have dealt with in recent weeks is around information and filling out forms, which has been mentioned by other colleagues already today. What is the Department doing to help people with filling out forms, be they online or in physical form, particularly with regard to the domiciliary care allowance? It is one application I deal with almost daily or several times during weekly. Families have difficulties have in converting and filling out that form. Are there plans to make it easier for families? Are there plans to ensure that those who need to fill them out will be helped? Will the form be reduced in size? Mr. Hession mentioned that the carer's allowance form has been reduced in size. That was no harm; it was one of the biggest forms I had to deal with. The current forms are very difficult, however, which has been mentioned time and time again by advocates and families who have approached us. Mr. Hession might comment on what the Department is doing to assist with that.