Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I am delighted with what she has said. She hit the nail on the head and mirrored exactly what Liam's family said to me before I came into the Chamber, namely, that Liam does not have a voice. He needs a voice and people like him need a voice. The Minister of State is right that if the same thing was happening to someone who was able to articulate issues, it might not have got to this. Liam does not have a voice. I am trying to be that voice for Liam to ensure his needs are met. Perhaps we could double-check on the potential reopening of the Cope service in Bandon in February. That would solve a lot of problems.

Since the Minister of State mentioned it, the issue of the residential houses in Castletownbere is still lingering on. The Minister of State has highlighted the issue, which is one of recruitment. I would like her to touch on one thing, as it came from her. It would be a fantastic idea not just for CoAction but also for Cope. During the pandemic, public sector HSE nursing home staff were transferred to private nursing homes to fill the gap. It was done very effectively. We are in a similar situation here. It is not a pandemic but it is a crisis where we cannot get staff for our disability services. Could something similar be looked at whereby public healthcare staff who are experts in caring for people with high needs could be reallocated to the likes of the Cope facility in Bandon or the CoAction service in Castletownbere?

See this speech in context