Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister of State is stepping in for the Minister. I have raised some of these issues directly with the Minister, including another case of a 42 year old constituent who is non-verbal and has high support needs. I raised that issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, in the Chamber five weeks ago and I am still waiting for a response. The HSE told me this man's need for a residential placement has been identified but that a business case for additional funding for this placement was not successful. What is his family to do? That is the question. They cannot meet his needs at home any longer so what are they to do? This is another forgotten citizen in the greatest little country in the world in which to do business. I could go on and on.

The Minister of State is also a constituency Teachta Dála and she meets with families who are looking for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, medical assessments and supports. It is a never-ending life of worry; it never stops. If one rears a child from infancy until they are in their 40s, as in these cases, there is no respite. One of these men, a 42 year old, spends all night in the house of his elderly parents walking up and down the stairs without cease. There are currently 7,176 children waiting over one year for assessments or initial therapies under early intervention services. I am reminded it is only one year since we celebrated and extolled the centenary of the 1916 Rising and, in all of that time, these children and their parents have been trying to get early intervention services. Now that the lofty rhetoric of ministerial speeches has faded, the reality of life for these citizens with disabilities and their families stands in stark, tragic contradiction of all the fine words.

I am sorry the Minister cannot be here although I understand Ministers cannot be here every time to take Topical Issues. However, the Government needs to get real and tell these parents what its plans are for dealing with these citizens.

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