Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for facilitating this important debate this evening. If we elected representatives are to be relevant at all, we must ensure we do everything possible for people, whether young or old, with physical and mental disabilities. In County Kerry at present - it is likewise around the country but we know about our own county - many day care centres that were closed because of the coronavirus are now only 30% open and that is not good enough. The parents of these children are under savage pressure. The home carers, whether they are brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers are under pressure. I have met many of them going back many years and they are great people for seeing after their children but they are under pressure when they get over 70 years of age. I know some that are moving towards 80 and their worry is what will happen their child when they pass on or who will look after the child. We are short of respite places for these children and when the parents are getting old, they do not know what will become of their child.

The coronavirus has disrupted so many families. These special children need physiotherapy, language therapy and speech therapy. They have lost all that and on top of that their parents are at home minding them 24-7 and they cannot give any time to their other children. It is very sad.

We are in trouble with primary care certificates. They are not being processed. We also have issues with early intervention for children with disabilities and home carers. Home carers are not being looked after at all and we must recognise them. If these children are not getting to day care centres, their parents must be funded to provide and pay for the services themselves.

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