Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Government's apology to Joanne Hayes. The re-emergence of this tragic case is bound to be traumatic for her and her family and the mother of baby John. I express our solidarity with them.

I raise with the Tánaiste the Government's abject failure to provide essential services for children with disabilities who are in the care of the State or who are in the community at large. I raised this matter with the Taoiseach yesterday following the Ombudsman for Children's damning report on the treatment of Molly, a teenager with Down's syndrome and severe autism. The investigation found that the State had denied Molly the supports she needed and abdicated its responsibilities. It found that its actions had had a negative effect on her and that she had not had an opportunity to reach her full potential. The HSE and Tusla have accepted the recommendations set out in the Ombudsman for Children's report - they had little choice - but they have also pointed out that meeting their commitments depends on the provision of resources. Other serious issues such as the lack of respite care services and the poor treatment of carers arise in this context. There is a significant deficit in the resourcing and funding of child and adolescent mental health services.

As the Tánaiste is aware, one of the privileges of being a Member of this House is that we frequently meet carers and groups in the voluntary and community sector that provide services for citizens with disabilities. Such services should be provided by the State in the first instance. I commend all those who are doing outstanding work in this sector. If they were not providing these services, many more people would fall between the cracks.

Section 39 agencies provide a range of vital care services for citizens who are living with disabilities and need hospice care, rehabilitation and various health services. The funding for such agencies was cut by a Fianna Fáil-led Government in 2010 and again by a Fine Gael-led Government in 2012. Front-line staff had their pay cut in line with the cuts for public service workers. They also lost increments. Not only is it absolutely unfair that the restoration of pay is being refused, it also represents bad economics. If these services are further reduced or removed, the citizens cared for will be condemned to a lesser quality of life. If they end up in hospital or the care of some other over-stretched service provider, the State will have to pick up the tab. The crisis in section 39 agencies has reached a tipping point. The Government needs to put in place a pay restoration process for the staff of such agencies. It has a responsibility to address this issue before the planned strike takes place on 14 February. If the strike goes ahead, it will compound the crisis that is being sharply felt by vulnerable citizens. It is not too late to act. Will the Government sit down with the unions that represent the workers to work out a positive and fair solution?

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