Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy. I agree absolutely that we have to receive accurate data and up-to-date information, as I know from visiting the services. I visited the Cope Foundation where I had a two-hour session with the people there to discuss their particular needs. We have increased the funding for the foundation in 2018. Is it enough? The answer is absolutely not.

Let us go back to the core issue of focusing on the need for more residential places. We need to focus on a particular cohort of families where the parents are in their 70s and 80s and the adults being cared for are in the 40s and 50s. These are the people who need places. The Deputy referred to the waiting list of 170 at the Cope Foundation. That is an accurate figure based of my experience in talking to staff and parents in Cork.

I will appreciate the support of the Deputy coming up to the negotiations on the Estimates. We need to ensure we will receive 400 new places this year to try to deal with the issue. My plan and objective as Minister of State is to try to have services from the cradle to the grave for all children with disabilities. We have come through a big debate in recent weeks on the rights of women. I am also pushing on the rights of people with disabilities. We need to ensure services are in place for them. We need to build a new system that will respect people and look after senior citizens who are doing a fantastic job. In the meantime, I see respite care, the carer's grant and other supports as stop-gap measures. They do not address the real issue. We have to face the reality. We need to focus on providing in the Estimates for 400 new places at a minimum. I would appreciate any support in that regard. It will be among my priorities in the coming weeks.

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