David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

Would the Minister of State agree the facilities in this area in Ireland compared with those in continental Europe are utterly inadequate? Would he agree, for instance, with the standards the Peter Bradley Foundation cites in its recent report, namely, that we should have 74 consultants in this area but we have only three? Would he agree that the issue is getting people with acquired brain injury or stroke quickly into rehabilitation so they can receive the proper treatment on time and so that most of them can go home to live a normal life? Does he agree that is not happening? There are thousands of people in Ireland whom we are failing on this issue. We are way behind the rest of Europe. Could the Minister of State give us some indication or commitment that action will be taken in this important area?

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