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

The failures in disability services in providing supports and services and dignity for people with disabilities is Ireland's great shame. It is a shameful disgrace, and it is a disgrace that lies on the shoulders of successive Governments. I listened to a very powerful testimony from a couple from Dublin on the "Oliver Callan" show on Friday. They talked about how they were advised to get out of Ireland. I have personal family experience where that is exactly what they did - they went to Belgium. My nephew's mum is from Belgium. She fought with the system here. They lived in Waterford and fought for years until he was 12 or 13 years of age, then left and went to Belgium and overnight that child's - my nephew Dylan - experience was transformed. It is a shameful disgrace. It should not be this way. We can talk about policy, and we can talk about plans for the future, but the reality is that we should not be in this place to start with.

I can talk and produce figures. One feels incompetent and impotent as a public representative because all we are doing is tracking failure. Every six months, I can stand up in the Chamber and I can go on LMFM Radio and talk about how the promised posts are not filled, how 40% of CDNT posts in County Meath are not filled and how the waiting list is increasing to the point that 700 children in the county are waiting for a first CDNT appointment. Every one of those is a precious child with huge potential, and that potential is being stymied by the systemic failure of our Government and State agencies to provide for them. It is a damning indictment, and something has to be done. The Minister talked about a new Government and new potential and opportunity. Words count for nothing as far as I am concerned. What we need to see here is delivery. For my part and I am sure that of my party, we will do everything to fight this corner and make sure that progress is made. The Minister will have a willing partner if she is up for delivering that. Time will tell, however. There is a huge need for increasing capacity for additional training places, which she mentioned, as well as a job guarantee, which is something Sinn Féin has committed to, and pay parity. How are we still awaiting pay parity? I meet with representatives from Enable Ireland in Dunshaughlin, for example. It is immediately obvious that part of the reason they cannot get staff is, first, pay parity and, second, workers cannot afford houses in the area. It has to change. Many precious children are depending on it. I have not mentioned adults, but it is the same for them.

See this speech in context