Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for raising these important matters and giving me the opportunity to speak on them. I would also like to congratulate my colleague, Deputy Moynihan, on his appointment as Chairman of the new committee that has been formed. It is very important that we put a significant emphasis on the disability sector.

There is no doubt that this has been an extremely difficult time for people and their families. We all share a common desire to have the best possible policies and services for all children, adolescents and adults with disabilities. Personally and as Minister of State, I want everyone with additional needs to have access to the necessary supports in every aspect of their lives to enable them to achieve their full potential, maximise their independence and lead fulfilling lives.

There has been an awful lot of talk today about carers. I hosted an online round table with carers three weeks ago. It was supposed to be a much bigger event, but we had to reduce it. I heard from carers, including dual carers who are looking after children with intellectual disabilities, and a parent. I heard from carers about Covid and mental health issues.

In my remit as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I met the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, today to discuss carers in terms of the budget. It does not technically come under my remit. The care of carers does, but the finances involved do not. It is very important to put that on the record.

Disability services are provided in many types of settings across many organisations throughout the country, and in the age of Covid-19 these organisations have to adapt and do their best to ensure that services can continue to be provided. I would like to acknowledge the commitment of these services over the past seven months to supporting and protecting those with a disability who attend health and social care services.

The Government is committed to strengthening the State's relationship with the voluntary sector and to the full implementation of its five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The strategy sets out a long-term vision for communities in Ireland and the general direction of travel for Government policy with the community and voluntary sector for the coming years.

On Deputy Connolly’s question, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabitte, has asked me to say that she also wishes to see the disability capacity review published as soon as possible. We need reform and funding throughout the disability sector. She asked me to acknowledge the Deputy’s contribution.

My colleague also spoke earlier about the resumption of day care services, in particular, and I will outline the work under way to support the resumption of other services for people with disabilities. As has been said, respite is a crucial support mechanism for many families. Short stay residential emergency-residential respite began to reopen between July and August as the first stage in a three-phase plan. Activity is now increasing for the next two phases: September to November phase and December to February 2021.

On children’s services, all CHOs are putting appropriate arrangements in place to resume assessment of need and intervention therapy services in line with public health guidance. Additional funding of €7.8 million has been provided to the HSE specifically to reduce the current backlog in assessment of need. This funding will help reduce waiting times both for the assessment and for any therapeutic services required. The €10 million announced by my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabitte, last week to support the resumption of disability services included €2.5 million to provide 210 intensive support packages for children and young people with significant support needs. These packages will help these children and young people with complex high support needs to remain living with their families and this investment will go some way to alleviate some of the pressures and stress on people with disabilities and their families.

I appreciate that the reduced capacity in day services caused by Covid-19 is a considerable challenge and is far from the level of service that we would like to provide. However, services must continue to operate under public health guidance and the safety of all service users is paramount. The resumption of day services has been welcomed by service users and their families and this package of €10 million provided to enhance disability services is but a first step on the road to increasing capacity and expanding levels of service for service users.

Turning to the UNCRPD, we cannot allow the current situation to divert us from continuing our work in improving the lives of people with disabilities and significant cross-departmental work is under way in this regard. We are committed to a continued whole-of-government approach to improving access and quality of services for people. The recent programme for Government also commits to the development of an implementation plan to co-ordinate the implementation of the UN convention. Work will commence on the development of this implementation plan shortly.

The situation we now face is one that requires our fullest attention. I assure all that the Government will remain focused on providing the best services we can, while keeping the health and well-being of people with disabilities as our utmost priority. Once again I thank all for their time and valuable contributions regarding these most important matters.

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