Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to have the opportunity to speak on this important motion. I commend Sinn Féin on bringing it forward. This is an issue which I am passionate about. I continuously support local disability support groups in my constituency, Cork South-West, and I am a former voluntary board member of CoAction West Cork. I am glad that the Minister of State is supporting the motion, but I hope he will keep his word in this regard.

Last year he visited CoAction centres in Clonakilty and saw the excellent work being done there for people with disabilities, which is mainly funded by volunteers. A delegation from CoAction met him in the Dáil and pointed out the lack of funding for the centres across west Cork. The organisation delivers so much in west Cork for people with disabilities and their families, day in, day out, and relies mainly on funding raised by volunteers. It is yet to receive any extra funding from the Department or Government following that meeting. I urge the Minister of State to look into this as a matter of great urgency.

Today, one in 20 people in Ireland is a family carer, saving the state €10 billion in unpaid care per year. We are lucky that we can depend on caring family members to do this work, although we should not have to. During my speech on the budget I welcomed the increase in carer's allowance and acknowledged the great work they do. I highlighted an issue brought to my attention by a number of concerned constituents who came to my clinics. They are waiting 15 weeks for their payments to come through. I urge the Minister of State to look at this. I am sure he or I would not like to be waiting for over three months to be paid.

It has been only a few months since "Prime Time" aired the programme, "Carers In Crisis", which highlighted the lack of respite care available for disabled citizens and the spin-off effect that has on our hard-working carers. A few weeks ago I welcomed the fact that the Government has finally approved the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Now we need action in this regard.

During that debate, I raised the question of the lack of supports for disabled persons aged over 18 years who have no transport services to and from necessary disability services across my constituency. The appalling treatment of these adults and their parents is staggering, to say the least. Some 12 months ago, the Minister of State met another delegation from west Cork. During the meeting we tried to put in place the groundwork to resolve this issue. It would simply mean that the Minister of State, the HSE and the Cork Local Link would sit around a table together to find some resolution. I have spent the past number of months trying to speak to HSE personnel who have refused to meet with us. The man concerned works with the HSE and is paid by the State, and should not be in his job if he refuses to do it.

I ask the Minister of State to personally intervene in this issue and assist people aged over 18 from Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry and all over west Cork. They should not be treated like second-class citizens, yet throughout west Cork they are.

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