John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I wish to say a few brief words on the national disability strategy. It is important that we would continue with a strategy for people with disabilities. It is not all about money either; it is about having a proper strategy in place to recognise the different strands of disability and also to give people with disability a say. Everyone has a solution for people with disabilities and too often the person with a disability is not involved in the implementation of the policies.

I must declare a vested interest in that I have a daughter with a disability - spina bifida. I have been very involved with Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and many other associations in my county through the years. We have come a long way from 25 years ago. When my daughter went to St. Aidan's primary school, there was no personal assistant, PA. She then went to Enniscorthy vocational school where there was one PA between five students. A former Deputy in this House, Mr. Tony Dempsey, was then principal. He made the case for a PA for five students at that time. Dr. Michael Woods was then Minister. It was the first PA approved in County Wexford. Now every student attending Enniscorthy vocational school, and every other school has a PA, and rightly so. I hope that situation will continue. Despite the State's austerity measures and financial difficulties, I hope we will continue to support people in education. Irrespective of whether people have disabilities, it is important that they be given an opportunity to enhance their education and, if possible, get jobs.

The question of jobs raises issues. When I ask a company for €1,000 or €5,000 to pay for a function for people with disabilities, I get it more often than not, but if one asks the company to provide such a person with a job, the result is different. This is despite the fact that many people with disabilities are highly skilled, highly trained and highly educated and can probably do a job as well as any able-bodied person. However, some people are not prepared to give them a chance.

My county of Wexford had the legendary late Fr. Anthony Scallon. His approach was to develop strategies for people with disabilities and to let someone else worry about paying for them. The County Wexford Community Workshop, St. Michael's day care in Gorey, St. Clare's day care in Enniscorthy, the Ard Aoibhinn Centre in Wexford and St. John of God in Enniscorthy exist because of Fr. Scallon and a group of people recognised the need to provide services for people with disabilities. In whatever cutbacks are made, it is important that we not reduce the funding available to these and similar community groups across the country.

The cutbacks in respect of people with disabilities created many problems during the budget. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, was involved in pausing the cutbacks. I hope the delay will become permanent, so that people in receipt of €188 per week will continue to receive it. The amount is not large. Most people with disabilities are not able to drive and must avail of public transport or taxis. Nearly everywhere my daughter and her friends go, they travel by taxi. It is not because their parents will not drive them, but because they like to be independent, do what they want and go to and from community centres or discos under their own steam.

I will take a further minute of Deputy Troy's time to discuss the issue of informing families about disabilities. A number of organisations in Cork are doing this worthwhile work. There is a great deal of trauma and soul searching on the part of parents when they are informed that their child has a disability. It causes problems within families. Support and help are required. The Minister of State should consider the matter. The Cork template could be developed for the rest of the country. From my family's situation and what I know of other families, people's outlook on how they will cope changes when a consultant, doctor or nurse informs them that a child has spina bifida or another long-term illness. Since one always wonders what will happen to the person with the disability when one passes on, families must be supported in this regard as well. It is important that the Minister of State include this matter in the national disability strategy.

I thank the Minister of State for her interest in this field. From speaking with her, I know she has a genuine interest in it and that she will fight her corner at the Cabinet table to ensure that people with disabilities are protected. I hope we will be able to enhance their supports in the years ahead.

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