Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also commend Deputy Tully on bringing this motion before the House. The need to deliver rights-based services and supports for people has never been more pressing due to the Government announcing €336 million in additional funding for disability services. As €290 million of that was for existing levels of service, this left just €46 million for new development measures and capital developments to be spread thinly across respite, day services, children's services and of course the 11,000 children waiting for an assessment of needs. This is despite the disability capacity review indicating a need for annual investment of €135 million over a decade. That is why our budget would provide €147.6 million to meet requirements.

In my county of Tipperary, Cashel and Clonmel CDNTs have vacancy rates of 59% and 56%, respectively, with therapy hours falling by 40% because staff had not been hired. That is what funding at this level of service gives us when the Government's actions make experienced staff leave. When section 39 staff across the sector still do not enjoy pay parity with section 38 and HSE staff, this must be addressed straightaway. We would do it differently by funding targeted recruitment and retention measures for children's disability services under a community care access fund to speed up access to mental health and disability diagnoses and interventions of €30 million for 2025.

That leads me to the need to ratify the optional protocol. The truth is that the Government has stalled on this today because it cannot deliver for people with disabilities. That is why Josh in Clonmel cannot get to the school he deserves. That is why another boy cannot access the ASD primary placement in Carrick-on-Suir and why schools are seeing funding and staffing delayed or denied. I will be writing to the Minister on all these issues. Now that he has indicated a change of heart on the optional protocol, how will he uphold those rights with such an insignificant approach to the real needs of people with disabilities?

Budget 2025 has confirmed that, sadly, with the Government's approach, nothing will change.

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