Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire and colleagues for bringing forward this very important motion. It has the potential to be transformational. It is a necessary measure. People have mentioned the importance of it in recognising the work carers do. It is about valuing and respecting carers. It is a question of dignity and trust. I will make the point that it is usually women who are affected by this measure. It is certainly a gendered issue, but it is ultimately about the issue of recognition and trust.

I will make the case that carers should be trusted in their role. Their advice should be trusted as well. I will raise a particular case, where carers and parents are raising concerns about a development in County Meath. The special care unit at Johnstown looks after children with profound physical and intellectual disabilities. A proposal has been made to move the children in question to a new special school unit at St. Mary's Special School. Currently, nine children have the care of three nurses and eight care staff. It is proposed, when they go to St. Mary's Special School, that they will have one teacher, two SNAs and one nurse, and the care staff will not come with them. I have raised this with the Department of Education, the Minister for Education, the HSE and the Minister for Health, but there is no movement on it. Real concerns are being raised by carers regarding this. I encourage the Minister of State to look at it because ultimately nobody knows the care needs better than those delivering the care on a 24-7 basis. It is about trust and the recognition of the value of the work people do. They do such incredible work, not just for the people they care for but the whole community and the country.

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