David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I acknowledge the good work being done and the efforts being made by all the agencies across the board. However, what can I say to Orla and her parents for next September? Orla is a young woman with Down's syndrome. She needs to have support to get from A to B. Even though she would like to change buses, she is very vulnerable; she is very trusting. I am sure the Minister of State realises what I am talking about here. Her parents want the best for her. They brought her so far.

Obviously, the centre is a good deal away from her home. The Minister of State might consider having these centres more local, which would solve many problems. These young people need to travel into a city from a rural area. For a certain number of days a week, they go to one centre and on other days they go to a different centre under the auspices of the Hope Foundation which is doing great work as well. This issue comes down to a very moot point. This young woman cannot travel safely on her own unsupervised from A to B. Her parents are concerned. They are looking for a response. They are looking for support. They are looking for an answer. Both of them are working every day and they cannot afford to spend the time, although they would if they could but it would mean giving up their jobs to bring their daughter from A to B. They cannot do that. Next September, she will be leaving secondary school in her own town where she got on very well and is moving into the training centre to continue her career. The alternative is for her to stay at home which would mean she would not get out at all and would be very detrimental. The Minister of State may not have a response now. I support her in the work she is doing and in arriving at a solution.

As I said, the number of young people affected by this nationally is quite small. Not everybody wants this kind of support. However, in my area I know of at least four families who do. Perhaps the Minister of State can give this some thought. I would be happy to organise a meeting with her and maybe even arrange a deputation of parents to meet the Minister of State to bring everyone around the table, talk this through and see if it can be resolved. It would make a massive difference to the family and to Orla.

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