Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We would not want to be contaminated. It is the Independent Alliance.

I compliment Deputies O'Dea and O'Rourke for bringing forward the Bill on an excellent scheme. When common sense applied and there was plenty of funding many badly needed adaptations were carried out and I salute the staff on the local authority for the work they do. I also commend the occupational therapists on going out. It has become a bit bureaucratic of late, like everything else. This is a pity because it is a great scheme that keeps people out of hospitals and nursing homes. Above all, it keeps them where they are happiest, which is in their homes with their families, neighbours and friends. It is a saving and a win-win for the State.

This is a vital issue that can significantly affect the quality of life of a person with a disability. A total of 15% of the population in Tipperary, amounting to 23,593 people have at least one disability, more than 10,940 people in Tipperary have a difficulty with pain, breathing or other chronic illness or condition, while 10,374 people have difficulties with basic physical activities. We have good hurlers in Tipperary also so do not get bogged down with these figures. These are large enough numbers of people to whom we must show compassion and look after. Disability and the need for adequate housing conditions to enable independence are vital issues for many people.

As Deputy O'Dea said when he introduced the Bill, there are serious defects in the administration of the current scheme and how it is operated by various local authorities. Nothing is uniform as it varies from local authority to local authority. It is not as efficient as it should be or could be. We need to address this to ensure fast turnaround times to enable people to live in their own homes, and we need to do this with compassion and empathy.

See this speech in context