Dáil debates

Wednesday, 6 December 2017

12:00 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not know whether the Taoiseach saw the "Prime Time" special programme last evening which revealed the appalling and heart-rending situation facing many carers across this country. If the Taoiseach did not watch it, and he may not have had the time, I would recommend that he watch it fairly quickly because it revealed the appalling lack of sufficient State resources to carers. That lack of resources was laid bare, as was the enormity of the challenges that they face and the scale of the crisis. The disability sector is in crisis. Last night's focus was very much on the lack of any horizons, of any plans and of any clear pathways, in particular, for parents with adult children with intellectual disability.

We thank all of those who contributed to the programme and who gave us their stories. There was Jack Brennan, who is nearly 85 years of age, caring for his wife Bernie, who has Alzheimer's disease, at home. Since the programme, Jack had a stroke and his beloved wife, Bernie, is in a home. She got two and a half hours a day in home care and home help. Jacinta Walsh from Drogheda, aged 51, is caring for her 18 year old son, Sam, with autism. There is no respite care in the entirety of County Louth for adult children with autism or with intellectual disability. Teresa Kinsella's was one of the most heart-rending of all presentations. Diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease, she is looking after her daughter, Fiona, not knowing what lies in store. There was Mary McDonnell from Cork whom many of us would be aware of in terms of her life-long care for her beautiful daughter, Sinéad. Since the programme, her daughter passed away. For many of these parents, the appalling vista visits them every day that they do not know who they wish would die first. That was said last night on the programme, in many ways revealing the appalling dilemma, plight and lack of any certainty in their lives.

The lack of respite care is shocking. We all encounter this across the country. Only last week in my clinic, a gentleman came in to make representations because he is currently looking after three older siblings in their 60s with intellectual disability. When I contact the service provider, I am told that the family situation is indicative of the growing crisis in the disability sector. I could detail many more cases where there is real risk of tragedy occurring because of the lack of supports being provided. Such safety concerns were reiterated last evening, as was the real sense that there is no grasp of the reality at Government or HSE level that families across the country are in crisis.

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