Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Recently, I received a letter from Mr. Andrew Smith from Athboy, County Meath. Andrew is a 40-year-old man who is currently facing a severe challenge in his life. He has bravely spoken about his condition and how living in a nursing home at his age is having a detrimental effect on his mental health. At 17 years old, Andrew was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia, a degenerative disease that afflicts him with physical constraints and requires consistent and specialised care. Unfortunately, after the sad passing of his father who was his sole caregiver, Andrew was left with limited options. His brothers tried to take over the caregiving role but found it unsustainable due to personal and financial constraints. After exploring various care options, the HSE's Meath disability service suggested that the only viable solution would be to place Andrew in a nursing home. He has expressed significant dissatisfaction with his current circumstances, noting a negative impact on both his mental and physical health due to the lack of appropriate care and support at the nursing home for people like him. Andrew has stressed that he is well looked after by the staff but it is not his home, and this is affecting his mental health.

Andrew's case shines a light on an urgent issue in the Ombudsman's report, namely, its statement that young people in nursing homes have wasted lives. Young people with disabilities should not be inappropriately placed in elderly nursing homes. These settings are not equipped to provide the necessary physical, emotional, social and community support required by younger individuals. I appeal to the Government to address this issue and speed up an application for Andrew, which has been with the HSE for the past six months, to allow funding for a more appropriate community setting.

This year's budget failed people like Andrew. A ring-fenced annual budget should be allocated to each CHO area in order to improve the quality of life of each of these individuals, assist them in leaving nursing homes if that is their preference and support and enable them to enter more appropriate living arrangements to suit their age and needs. I also urge the Government to support Sinn Féin's motion and agree a sustainable funding model for section 39 organisations, which provide essential core services for people with disabilities on behalf of the HSE. This could help young people like Andrew live meaningful lives in their communities.

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