Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the referendum we will vote on this Friday, there are absolutely no new rights for carers or disabled people. The fact that legislation is being rushed and guillotined is also of serious concern. It is an insult to the intelligence of people and the electorate. A total of €20 million of taxpayers' money is being lashed out on this referendum. That €20 million could have gone into helping disabled people, such as the 1,000 people awaiting a primary cert and who are deemed not to be disabled enough to gain a primary medical certificate, even though some of these people may well have lost a limb. It is shameful what the Government is doing - absolutely shameful. Carers have no solid guarantees. It is important the electorate knows that and a resounding "No" is sent to this Government, because I think it is the only way it is going to listen. It is to be hoped that will happen on Friday and people will look into this further and not fall for the misinformation.

I have constantly highlighted the crisis within the children's disability network teams in my own constituency of Laois-Offaly. Again, it is another shambles. I have constantly highlighted in this House that there are children without proper, basic services. There are children being failed. There are children being left behind. There are families frustrated, upset and distressed. Many families have told me they are tired and worn out from having to fight for everything. Many of our teams in Laois-Offaly, which is in the CHO 8 area, have had vacant posts for so long now. Why is that? Why are children being constantly failed? Why lash out €20 million on a referendum, which is a shambles, and then fail these children, fail carers and fail disabled people? The HSE disability services have responded to my engagement and revealed just how stark the crisis is across all nine CHO areas, but particularly in my own area of CHO 8. I ask for that to be addressed.

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