Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The vital personal assistant service is undermined by the medical model of disability. People must do what they are told, not what they want to do so. We see this in the action taken by the Irish Wheelchair Association to impede the hand-over of the Cuisle respite care service in County Roscommon to another operator. The right to work, have friends and have a choice of leisure activities is restricted by this lack of independence. I will give two local examples. John is 48 years old and suffered a brain injury ten years ago. His permanent residence is a private nursing home. He is allowed to retain 20% of his weekly income, out of which he must pay for taxis to attend hospital appointments, prescription charges, for clothing, a physiotherapist and a personal assistant. Cathy is 42 years old. She occupies a rehabilitation bed, despite being ready to be discharged six months ago because no homecare support service can be secured. She is blocking a bed for Helen who has been trapped in St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin for the last year while she waits for a rehabilitation bed. This has to change.

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