Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 June 2022

Respite Care Services: Motion [Private Members]

 

10:32 am

Photo of Joan CollinsJoan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

The findings of the HIQA investigation into the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick were extremely shocking and according to HIQA, could put lives at risk. HIQA's verdict was that the emergency department is under-resourced, understaffed and poorly managed. That verdict could be employed for our public health services as a whole. They are all under-resourced, understaffed and poorly managed despite the exorbitant salaries paid at the top of the Department of Health and the HSE. The same verdict could be doubly applied to the poor relation of healthcare in this country, that is, our mental health services.

This motion deals with the issue of respite care or should I say the almost complete lack of it. Only 3% of the overall €2 billion per year budget for mental health services is allocated for respite care. The section on respite care in the Disability Capacity Review to 2032 is remarkably short in what is overall a lengthy and comprehensive document. It comprises two paragraphs along with a box of key points. It includes statistics for 2017 which show that only one in four family carers for those over five years of age with intellectual disabilities received any respite care and that was the case for only one in three of those caring for adults. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment to conducting an audit for older people. It is key that we know what we are dealing with and then provide services.

The capacity review went on to point out that unmet need could be considerably higher, meaning we do not know the correct level of unmet need. In other words, the level of action we need can only be guessed at. There is no information as to what level of services exists now or a national breakdown of those services. The latest figures for bed numbers were for 2018. However, on page 15 of the review it is noted that access to residential care, a key element of respite care, has fallen since 2008. The shortfall is estimated at between 800 and 2,300 beds. The 800 number is based on a HSE emergency and urgent list which is not up to date, while the higher figure of 2,300 is based on restoring the level available in 2007. To deal with the backlog of unmet need and to account for future demographic change, an extra 1,900 residential places would be needed under the minimum scenario and an estimated 3,900 would be required to return to 2007 levels.

The motion calls for a number of urgent actions and for a comprehensive audit of respite services to be undertaken. The Minister of State has agreed to that. That audit may be provided by the HSE directly or through the voluntary organisations, funded as section 38 and 39 bodies, to establish the level of unmet need and what resources are required to meet it. The motion also calls as part of that audit for the us to establish the level of rented accommodation used for respite services. It seems there is a preference in the HSE for renting rather than buying homes to be used for respite care.

The motion calls on the Government to act now on its commitment in the programme for Government to ratify and sign the optional protocol to the UNCRPD. I note the point the Minister of State made in her speech about that being contingent on the State being in a position to meet its obligations. We must ensure that we meet those obligations as soon as possible. The protocol is an important addition to the UNCRPD, to which we have already signed up. It would allow individuals and groups to raise complaints if they believe their rights have been infringed by the State. It is important we sign the protocol because it would mean the rights of people would at least be protected. It would push the Government and future Ministers to implement the plan.

I met with the Oireachtas disability groups yesterday. They feel the disability capacity review action plan should be followed up on and there should be an implementation plan in that regard. I would like to hear what the Minister of State has to say about that issue.

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