Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government says:

Ever since Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we have signalled to those with a disability that we are now serious about making a difference – a difference that will make things better.

The Government has not done that, however. It has not acted to make things better. I attended a very powerful meeting last Monday night, organised by WALK, an organisation that does tremendous work in supporting people with intellectual disabilities. Service users, relatives, friends and staff packed out the biggest room in Rua Red and powerfully told their stories of how Government choices put up significant barriers that disabled them. There is a chronic shortage of residential places. There are very significant staff shortages because of the Government's failure to give pay parity to section 39 and section 38 workers. People with mild intellectual disabilities are often unable to get the psychiatric support they need. Will the Government act on this? Will it give pay parity and invest in staff now? Will it also make a significant investment in residential places?

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