Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss a matter of national importance, namely, the report of the Ombudsman for Children which has highlighted the lack of independent assessment of residential care services for children with disabilities; the fact that the Social Services Inspectorate has no responsibility for the inspection of these services; the significant increase in the number of complaints from 177 to 790 in the past year; the necessity for unimpeachable systems of inspection and accountability in these residential care centres to ensure the delivery of the highest standards of care that these children deserve; and to call on the Government to broaden the remit of the Social Services Inspectorate to include the inspection of residential units which care for children with disabilities.

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