Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I thank all who contributed to the debate on both sides of the House.

My first encounter with people who have acquired brain injury was on several levels. The one that made me take a serious look at this issue and try to persuade others to use our very valuable Private Members' time was a presentation given here by Brí. The one thing that stuck in my head — and this is all about heads — was the caption, "Mind your head because your head minds your mind." That was something I had never thought about before. Whether ABI comes as a result of an injury from outside or inside, the fact that so much can be done, but is not, is shameful for all of us. Neither the Labour Party nor, I dare say, Fine Gael or any of the other party wants to just have a go at the Government on this. That would ultimately be pointless since this Government is beyond that. It is shameless and simply does not react to anything. This is not about that, but rather holding out hope for the tens of thousands of people who know their lives could be better — and for those who look after them, their carers. It is a question of saying to them, in effect: "Your struggle will not be in vain. We will do something better for those who come after you."

In my opening address last night I spoke about one rehabilitation unit with 110 beds. The Minister spoke about a rehabilitation unit with 120 beds. What she did not tell us, and should have — and I just hope that she knew — was that 11 of those beds are closed because of cost cutting. At present we do not have 110 beds, but less than 100 because 11 are closed owing to shortage of funding. The HSE has cut the funding and the Minister has allowed it to do so.

The Minister can talk all she likes in general terms about the millions put into health care, an extra billion here or there. Let us talk about the 10,000 people who will this year acquire a brain injury, and the few chosen ones who will be able to get into a rehabilitation unit and have an expectation of a proper life as a result. I can quote all night from e-mails I have been receiving this week, but they are too many. Deputy Liz McManus quoted from one e-mail, but we could cite hundreds. I am sure the Minister of State has received them as well. There was a young family here last night, a brother, sister and a mother, whose son received the type of rehabilitation that is required for seven months, and came home to nothing. All that he had gone through had been for nothing. No speech therapy was available to him, as the Minister of State implies in his speech, and no physiotherapy. They are trying desperately to provide it from their own means on a private level, but that cannot happen. How can the average worker afford to provide the type of service that only a communal pot can pay for?

All types of issues are attached to this. It is not about having a go at the Government but rather shining a light on an area of health that has been left in the dark for far too long — that is all. Last night and again today in her eloquent tribute to the Taoiseach, the Minister made a big play of the fact we are all going to live three years longer than average. Darwin will confirm it is about the survival of the fittest. Is that what this Government is about as well, the survival of the fittest? Ultimately, it is a question of quality of life, not just longevity. What is the point if one's quality of life is not what one knows it can be? Imagine what it is like to be trapped within a body that, with the right expertise, development and processes, can be returned to normality and a fully functioning life. We are not even talking about something that would cost us more, but rather the fact that if the resources were shifted, millions would be saved, and those of us who are expected to live three years longer could have the quality of life we deserve.

In ten years time some 800,000 people will have acquired brain injury because we are going to live three years longer. It makes no sense for the Government to do what it is doing. It is about the inherent waste within the system. Someone once told me the system did not encourage savings. Neither does it encourage good sense or the type of shift we are suggesting. We are not asking the Government to study this issue any longer. We have the studies and figures and know what needs to happen. We are not asking for miracles overnight. A regional roll-out is not possible in one go. We are looking for teams to be put in place to assess needs and work on the ground and for an inpatient service to be developed from this. It is not right that the chances of survival should be better if one acquires a brain injury in Dublin, nearer to Beaumont or Dún Laoghaire, for instance, than they would be in Limerick, Galway, Wexford, Cork, Mallow, Kerry or any of those areas.

We should not and cannot conclude a debate such as this without acknowledging and paying tribute to all the consultants, therapists, nurses and workers who struggle daily to try to raise awareness and enhance the quality of life of ABI sufferers. I have in mind in particular the often unpaid and overlooked carers and family members who dedicate their lives to improving the lot of their loved ones. I trust and I hope that this motion will be a landmark step in providing proper services. This is an opportunity for politicians to stand up and be counted. I am not fussed as to who provides the service as long as it happens. As Deputy Gilmore has just said, acquired brain injury is a silent epidemic in Ireland. Those of us who have the ability to speak out should not be silent about it. I move the motion, in anticipation. Someone once said the job of all backbenchers is to hold the Government to account. Maybe they will have the courage of their convictions and vote for this motion.

Amendment put.

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