Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Recently we discussed the issue of a mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant at the joint committee, following which we had the abrupt announcement that it was to cease pending the outcome of the consultation process in the time ahead. Since then the centres for independent living have contacted the members of the joint committee and have addressed it outlining their profound concerns. Profoundly disabled people were present for the hearing. I appeal to the Minister of State to ensure there are no more cuts for disabled people. We cannot go back to the days of institutionalisation which cost the State more money. I appeal to her to resolve that issue.

I have two abiding memories of all the years I have canvassed as a candidate in elections. The first was in a rural area of north Donegal and driving through windy roads and eventually arriving at a farm. When we got to the farmyard the woman of the house, an incredibly positive person, was tending the sheep. She went into the house but I was not aware of what was ahead. Her husband had been paralysed in a car accident many years before and her father-in-law was elderly and almost immobile. She was looking after her husband and father-in-law and the farm. When leaving the house, after meeting this remarkably positive woman, I was informed that her sons are the pride of not just that family but the entire community. This woman was a carer of two men who were incapacitated and looked after a farm.

I remember an incredible woman in her early 80s closer to my home place, Buncrana, in the Clonmany area. Her foster son, a talented young boxer in his early 20s, had been paralysed. The doctors told her there was no hope of a recovery and that he would be in a vegetative state. Given her love and affection, she took him home, looked after him and nurtured him. He was able to communicate by typing words. Every one of us, irrespective of which side of the House we are on, is a decent human being and we want to do the best for our communities. The memory of those two women will always be with me. I know there are many similar stories.

We cannot fail carers of disabled people, we cannot let them down. Whatever has to be done we cannot fail such people. In all sincerity we need to have a threshold of decency in terms of what point we get to and we need to ensure that people who are profoundly disabled and their carers, people who need our support as a Republic, are given their independence and dignity in order that they can be productive citizens. Does it really matter if one is economically productive? If one can be there for one's family that means a great deal.

We have had too many cuts. The Government needs to do much more. The previous Government put in place cuts of 10% in the income of people with disabilities, including a cut to the blind person's allowance, cuts to grants for housing extension, cuts in health, education and so on. Those cuts will have to be reversed. I repeat again there will have to be a threshold of decency. Whatever our political perspectives in this House, we are decent people. We would not have been elected if we were not decent people. We have the support of our communities to come to this House. We need to ensure we do not fail disabled persons any more. We must ensure that those people in wheelchairs who had been empowered and are terrified at the idea of going backwards, are not impacted further.

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