Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for coming in today. I was very interested in the written submission from TUS. It is 2023, and both statements refer to funding and the lack of funding. The fact is that funding is down nearly 50%, with the figures going the wrong way. Indeed, it is probably down 90% realistically, because the numbers have risen and the funding has halved. I am reading one of the recommendations in the TUS submission on the issues with executive functioning, and one of the most basic things that should be provided in any college, university or school is an occupational therapist. It seems that TUS does not even have that and it is looking for funding for it. I find that mind-boggling. The other challenges that the organisations are facing concern basic rights. It is ironic. The witnesses mentioned Bills and legislation. We are all aware that the optional protocol has not been ratified yet. There is actually a rally outside Leinster House today on the issue again. There seems to be huge barrier in this House to ratifying it. We know that it cannot be ratified it because the Government cannot provide the provisions that it sets out. I suppose that there is a fear that they will be done first, which is probably right. If these are the challenges that are being faced now, do the organisations represented find it difficult to assist people with autism to meet their living needs or accommodation standards? Is there a huge barrier there? The organisations seem to be willing to do everything right, but the will from those supporting the organisations - the Government and Government Departments - does not seem to be coming forward. Having read the submissions and listened to the witnesses, the worry about providing a service and also providing accommodation comes across. A question has been raised about the changes that could be made to the current model of funding. I am asking myself what changes could be made, when the organisations are not getting any funding. How can we, as a committee, press the issue? I take it that the organisations have sent their submissions to the Department. Have they? No. I would be very interested in hearing the response if the submissions were sent to the Department. It is very frustrating for us to be sitting here listening to these statements when we are trying to push stuff forward. There is resistance coming from the people who are supposed to be predominantly supplying the funding.

I cannot believe that funding has dropped from over €600,000 down to €300,000 while the demand has probably doubled in those short three years or so. Whatever we can do as a committee, we will support. I thank the witnesses for coming here and telling the truth, which is the most important thing. The witnesses need these platforms to say they are in trouble. While they do not want to be here giving out all the time, if they have an opportunity to air their grievances, maybe we can work together and assist one another in moving this forward because this is vital to the development of any person or group. It is about equal opportunity. If someone wants to go to third-level education, he or she should be afforded that opportunity but from what I have seen here, the resistance is significant, which makes my blood boil. I will leave it at that. It is mind-boggling that we are even discussing this in 2023. We have battled enough for this over the years and in the seven years I have been here regarding disability and autism. It goes back to the optional protocol, which is my major bugbear. If we had that, life would be a lot easier for the witnesses. I wish them well. The witnesses are welcome to email me and keep in touch with me because we need to know what is happening too.