Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

For clarification, I have just come from the meeting of the Committee on Disability Matters, where we discussed mental health reform and advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities and mental health. One of the issues which came from that meeting and continues to come from many of the meetings we have in this committee is that people talk about doing something into the future, or that there is a pipeline of things to be done. As somebody said this morning, that pipeline seems to get diverted and it seems to go into the ether. The feeling is that we are not implementing the optional protocol on the basis that the services that we are delivering are not fit for purpose for the particular protocol and that we have to get our ducks in line first before we do that. From what I heard this morning, I also understand there is a pull between mental health and disabilities in respect of funding and as to who is responsible for what. At the end of the day we have 1,300 people plus living in long-term residential care under 65 years of age who should not be there.

We have other issues such as wardship, as the Minister mentioned. I understand that legislation and things have to be teed up but it is taking a hell of a long time. People are getting frustrated and believe that perhaps the Government is hiding behind this legislation that is not in place. Could we get reassurance on that point, please?

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