Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to hear this matter.

I am becoming increasingly concerned about the ability of children and young adults with special and complex needs and disabilities to access the psychological services they need. This is an issue that has presented itself to me on a number of occasions since the first lockdown last year, when I was approached by the families of children with special needs who were beside themselves with worry about their young children.

Recently, I was approached by a parent in my constituency whose family has found itself in this situation. Jack, on whose behalf I am speaking today, is a young adult with special needs. However, like so many others around the country, his ability to interact on a social level has been restricted. These restrictions have resulted in him not being able to attend the local centre that he has used so much in the past, and whose contribution to his life has been immeasurable. He loves GAA but restrictions have prevented him from accessing this social outlet as well. In designing these restrictions, what has been forgotten about are the measures that need to be in place to help families deal with the consequences that these limitations have for their loved ones.

During the first round of restrictions last year, Jack’s anxiety increased and his sleep patterns changed. He was given some medication to deal with this but soon the benefits began to wear off, which brings me to the situation as it is right now. Six weeks ago Jack’s anxiety increased to such a level that he could no longer sleep. For four days and four nights, he did not get a wink of sleep and his levels of anxiety continued to increase. His parents were burning the candle at both ends and a doctor’s appointment could not be secured for a week and a half.

However, when he got that appointment, his emotional needs were not addressed. Jack, of course, was in need of psychological assessment and counselling. His mother has told me that every avenue she went down ended in a brick wall. There were no accessible or immediate psychological services available for her son because he has special needs.

The more she tried, the more disheartened, worried and desperate she got. She described it to me as like drowning. Finally, through the supreme efforts of the local MooreHaven Centre, which, she said, went above and beyond in helping her, she managed to link up with a psychologist. The Minister of State might think that I am now going to detail a happy resolution to this issue. In fact, Jack is now on a three-week waiting list. All the while, his level of anxiety has to be dealt with by a family that are struggling and feel let down and left out because their son happens to have special needs. The family is trying to remain positive for him, keep his spirits up and keep him well, but they are fearful of the consequences of all of this for their son if his needs remain unaddressed.

The Minister of State will appreciate that in all situations like this, time is of the essence. If the family gets the scheduled appointment for Jack, this episode in their lives will have gone on for nine weeks. I have reason to believe it is not an isolated case. If Jack's family were here today to tell the Minister of State about all of this, what would he say to them? Could he tell them the extent to which he foresaw this type of eventuality and what measures he took to deal with such? Can he tell me what he intends to do to resolve Jack's situation and the similar situations countless families are experiencing? When the Covid restrictions were being considered, was enough done to deal with the impact the measures would potentially have on people's mental well-being? Jack's mother has described the system of accessible psychology supports for people like her son as atrocious.

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