Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very happy to support this motion from Sinn Féin. It forensically looks at some of the major gaps in our system of supports for people with disabilities and it asks some of the hard questions. In many ways, the context is set by the failure to publish the capacity review action plan. It is already badly delayed. I listened to some of this debate in my office but I did not hear whether the Minister of State gave a commitment as to when this review will be published. If he did not, perhaps the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, might be able to say something about it afterwards. Many might ask what good a plan is and say that we need action now. In a way, both of those are right. We do need action now but that action must be underpinned, informed and directed by the recommendations in the capacity review action plan. As Inclusion Ireland said in its pre-budget submission, there needs to be a proper plan in place for disabled people's lives because only when there is can we move from crisis to confidence.

The Minister of State spoke about the largest ever budgetary spend on disability. I have no doubt she and her colleagues played a significant role in ensuring that budget but surely any level of spending must be placed within a framework of action. I know her real commitment and her work. Crucially, I know individual needs and stories matter to her. In my view, empathy matters greatly in her work. However, the figures do not lie. More than 17,000 children are waiting for initial contact with the children's disability network teams. How is the Minister of State going to bring down those numbers when there is a 28% vacancy rate among posts in the network? Where is the workforce planning right now? Is there a high-level cross-departmental group addressing this issue? Are the colleges and technological universities on board? As we speak, can anybody tell me whether the intake of speech and language therapists has significantly increased this year or if there are 20% more health and social care professionals in our education system? Has the number of occupational therapists in training increased significantly? Unless this is happening now, that figure of 17,000 children will not fall. It certainly will not fall at the pace needed. What measures are being taken to retain staff or to attract staff from elsewhere? Are specific programmes under way to do this? If there are not, there will be another debate this time next year and we will be trotting out the same figures or similar. I know the Minister of State inherited an extremely difficult situation but none of us want to be here again next year or the year after and, unless we know that these plans are now in place, we know that is where will find ourselves.

I spoke earlier about the rights-based approach. In that context, I want to ask the Minister of State about the provision of personal assistance packages so that people with a disability can live independent lives. We know that is not possible for most people who have a disability unless they have personal assistance. It gives them dignity and a bit of choice as to how and where they live their lives and whether to go to work or social occasions. That is the only way to ensure an inclusive and accessible way of living for people with disabilities. However, that has to be supported financially. I may be wrong but I believe there are approximately 17,000 people who need personal assistance right now. Whatever the number is, can the Minister of State tell me it will decrease significantly at the end of this year?

I will echo the words of my colleague, Deputy Connolly, and ask for the ratification of the optional protocol to the UNCRPD. How soon can we expect that? The Minister and I know that this underpins what is in the UNCRPD. It gives confidence to people with a disability and tells them we are taking responsibility and that they can vindicate their rights. We all know that really matters.

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