Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Finian McGrath on raising again the important issue of disabled people. The Deputy has consistently championed people with disabilities over the years, for which I thank him.

I also congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, on his elevation to office and hope things go well for him. The first item of business for the new Minister of State is to personally intervene to reverse cuts in funding for advocacy organisations. These cuts, which amount to €1.2 million and affect 26 advocacy organisations that support and advocate on behalf of people with disabilities, are unacceptable. Last evening, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, informed the House she was unaware of the cuts and had not been consulted on them. I ask the Minister of State to personally intervene to have them withdrawn.

Caring for a child or family member with disabilities is a major challenge, which has been made significantly more difficult by the austerity agenda pursued in recent years. Parents and carers face serious mental, physical and financial challenges and are under constant pressure as they fight to have their needs and entitlements met. As children with disabilities grow older, their parents and carers worry about what will happen to them when they are no longer around to look after them. As a result of the austerity measures implemented in recent years, 45% of people with disabilities endure income poverty and 36% experience deprivation, more than 50% of those living in jobless households are either children or adults with disabilities and those who are out of work through illness or disability endure the highest levels of poverty, approximately twice the national average. In those circumstances, it is vital that the cuts in funding and services are reversed. The number of day care, residential and respite places must not be reduced further. On the contrary, the number of places provided for people with disabilities must be increased.

I was contacted during the week about a case, which may appear minor to healthy individuals, where the principal carer of a child with disabilities became unwell. Notwithstanding the best efforts of grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings, if a carer is ill for any length of time, it creates a major problem. Particular attention should be paid to these types of cases, even if only during the summer months when most children attend summer camps. Perhaps places in such camps could be made available for children with disabilities. The individual who contacted me is very worried and believes the matter could be resolved by the provision of respite care or a place in summer camps.

Carers do a vast amount of work, the value of which to the State is estimated to be €4 billion per annum or one third of the budget of the Health Service Executive. Recent cuts to carers' payments must be reversed in the forthcoming budget. The half-rate carer's allowance must become a core payment. Cuts to the respite care grant must be restored to its previous level and the household benefits package for carers and people with disabilities must be reversed because these benefits are essential to the livelihoods of people with disabilities. I commend the motion.

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