Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to address this very important matter and to set out the Sinn Féin position on it. I commend Fianna Fáil on introducing the Bill and hope sincerely that we can all work together to improve dramatically the entire process whereby citizens with disabilities access vital funding to carry out adaptation works to their homes. Improving the system through a speedy and simplified process would be a great relief to family members who find themselves utterly frustrated, annoyed and under severe stress as they try to navigate what can be an arduous bureaucratic nightmare. Their energies would be better channelled towards their suffering loved ones. I note from a reply to my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, last week the significant disparity in the drawing down of funding across local authorities up to 30 April 2019. This is consistent with the position in years gone by when funding drawdown appeared to have no consistency on a local authority by local authority basis. To the end of April 2019, not a single euro was drawn down in Cavan, Laois, Louth, Offaly or Wicklow by any local authority to fund housing adaptions. Kildare has drawn down just €19,228 whereas Wexford County Council drew down €637,136. This is absolute madness. While budgetary processes and timelines may offer some explanation, the differences recorded are beyond belief. In that regard, I must say "Well done, Wexford".

Housing adaptations must be streamlined in a single system and funding must be apportioned without delay on the basis of need. The time it takes for funding to be returned by a local authority which does not use its allocation to meet the demands of another leaves people waiting unnecessarily. Money must be made available as a matter of urgency for those in need. What we know for sure is that changes must be made because the system in place does not work in the manner it needs to. Of course, there is an onus on local authorities to ensure works proposals and related funding requirements for housing allocations are as accurate as possible. As such, there should be no extensive waiting lists for housing adaptation grants. Similarly, funding provision must be fluid with funds being made available as need arises across all local authority areas. Adapting houses on the basis of need is economically and socially prudent. It is widely recognised that the best care a person can receive is provided in the setting of their own homes and communities surrounded by family, friends and neighbours. We are all aware of the cost of full-time residential care in nursing home settings, whether public or private. We are aware also that there is an acute shortage of beds with long waiting lists to secure a nursing home place. It is imperative therefore that funding is made available to carry out adaptations to homes when needed.

I turn now to address a related housing and disability matter as the debate allows. I am sure all Deputies will know Ms Sinead Stack who has lobbied every Deputy, Senator and MEP in relation to her brother who is desperately seeking a residential place in County Kerry. Ger Stack is 40 years old and has a profound intellectual disability, physical disability and epilepsy and he is non-verbal. Ger and three peers are all now middle aged with complex care needs requiring high level, 24/7 support for all aspects of their lives. They are all living at home with aging carers, in most of cases their parents. Many of their parents are struggling with health issues of their own. What is required is a residential service to provide a forever home for these four adults. Engagement with the HSE and the St. John of God organisation took place two years ago and an application for emergency funding was submitted to the HSE. The HSE agrees that there is a residential service requirement to meet Ger Stack's long-term care needs, but no funding has been received for the development of a service in 2018 or 2019 for Cork and Kerry community healthcare. Mr. Stack's needs have now been placed with a residential placement committee which comprises representatives from all relevant organisation in the Cork and Kerry area. The committee reviews applications for residential places and assigns priority on the basis of need. Mr. Stack's data have also been placed with the management assessment process of the disabilities services. That allows a profile to be established and a residential place identified should a vacancy arise. I ask the Minister of State to note all of what I am saying in the absence of the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities who I expected would be here tonight. In December 2017, Ms Sinead Stack and family members and advocates met the Minister of State and did so again yesterday. I appeal in the strongest terms for the issue to be looked at as a matter of urgency and given the priority address it undoubtedly requires. Direct intervention is necessary and I urge the Minister of State, Deputy English, to speak to his colleague to ensure this matter is addressed at long last.

The Bill states that its aim is to provide for ease of access to housing adaptation grants for people with disabilities where applicants qualify for same and to provide for related matters. The Bill states further that local authorities administering housing adaptation grants for people with disabilities shall from establishment day process in so far as practicable an application for such a grant within a period of not more than four weeks from the date of receipt of said application. Sinn Féin supports these aims. I join Fianna Fáil colleagues in urging the Government to support the Bill on Second Stage to allow the proposals contained therein to be addressed in greater detail on remaining Stages. As disabilities spokesperson for Sinn Féin, I commit our support for the Bill on all Stages. I commend those who moved the legislation.

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