Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the acquired brain injury rehabilitation centre in Castleisland, County Kerry, which is administered by Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. The visit was an eye-opener. I have some experience of acquired brain injury in my family, but the visit will stay with me. Many of those attending the centre have been the victims of road or various other accidents or are people who got sick as a result of various infections or viruses, etc. which resulted in acquired brain injury. The service being provided in Castleisland is fantastic. It is the proper model for dealing with people with acquired brain injury and to help them to be rehabilitated and live as independent a life as possible. The service is run by fantastic professionals who do a wonderful job in which they are supported by the HSE, Kerry County Council and other agencies.

One major issue is the great stigma attached to acquired brain injury. People to whom I spoke at the centre took the view that the stigma of disability was attached to them. Rather than being seen as people with disabilities, they would prefer to be seen as people in rehabilitation.

Sadly, not everyone who acquires a brain injury in Ireland has the opportunity to avail of rehabilitation services. That is why I raise this important issue tonight. We must change our approach to the way we deal with ABI. We must ensure everyone who suffers a brain injury is given the opportunity to be rehabilitated. Some 10,000 people acquire a brain injury in Ireland every year, but only one in four get into the National Rehabilitation Hospital. This means some 7,500 do not get into the hospital. I realise there are other forms of rehabilitation and that other services are provided for those who acquire a brain injury. However, we must adopt a more community-focused approach. That is what I seek in the lifetime of the Government.

Some of the ABI injuries which I have encountered and of which I have been made aware by the professionals working in the field could have been prevented. The need for cyclists to wear helmets has been highlighted to me. It is simple, but many of those who suffer an ABI in Ireland every year are cyclists who fall off their bicycles or are involved in road traffic collisions. We must try to tackle this issue. It is a small simple matter but significant nonetheless and we must consider it.

The implementation of the national policy on and strategy for the provision of neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland will make a difference, as the professionals working in the field are aware. The ABI model should be extended, where possible, but funding must also be made available. There must be understanding in the community and a focus on this model. That has not happened to date as much as we would have wished.

I would be grateful if the Minister of State gave this issue her attention during her tenure. This is an important matter and the numbers affected are considerable, some 10,000 people every year. We could start by trying to address the problem of stigma attached to ABI and proceed from there. Those who run the service are keen to help more people to help themselves, but they need support to do so. I hope the Minister of State will be in a position to deliver it.

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