Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the guests in the Gallery. I thank the Social Democrats and Deputy Cairns for bringing forward this important motion, which we will be supporting. It is one of the many motions on legislation on the rights of people with disabilities we have debated recently in the House. Far too often, these life-changing issues are raised before the Dáil but to no avail. If the Government will not listen to the Deputies who raise these issues on a daily basis then it must listen to the 150,000 people on disability allowance and, indeed, the people in the Gallery today.

Currently, the rate of poverty and social exclusion for people with disabilities in Ireland is one of the highest in the European Union, resting currently at 38.1% and rising. People with chronic illnesses or disabilities are more than twice as likely to be at risk of poverty than other adults and approximately twice as likely to experience basic deprivation and constant poverty. From employment to sport to accessing transport, people with disabilities face additional risks of social isolation and discrimination. The hardship and pain caused by these barriers is socially and morally unjustified. We also fail to value the skills, talents and resilience of people with disabilities and what they bring to the table.

I have spoken many times about the Families Unite for Services and Support, FUSS, group in County Wexford, which campaigns for their children's rights. When will that group and the 445 children awaiting disability services in County Wexford see proper services provided to them? When will we see the vacancies in occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychiatry in the county filled? This motion calls for a plan to fill the 732 vacant posts for therapists and provide a service for children with disabilities. I cannot stress enough today how urgent this work is. The services and those trying to hold them together are worn out. They cannot continue like this. Then, there are also services like Windmill in Wexford town, which supports 55 people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It contacted me last week to outline how important the publication and resourcing of the action plan to implement the cost of disability in Ireland report is, for which this motion calls.

It is imperative that the Minister of State gives a clear and concise commitment today on this publication and a decisive timeframe for delivery. When we speak about these issues, we often miss the most important things of all. We are missing out on the supports needed for children to flourish. We are missing out on the adult who just needs that little bit of extra support to be able to live independently and take his or her rightful place in society. We are missing out on the potential of artists with disabilities - musicians, painters, writers - and our Paralympic athletes. Recognising the rights of people with disabilities and providing support is an essential part of all our well-being. Let us do that today by supporting this motion before the House today on the cost of disability.

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