Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I found preparing for this debate extremely difficult because for me disability advocacy is not just a policy area. For me, it is deeply personal. For the past 19 years I have worked within the disability sector. I have been specialising in supporting children who are neurodiverse and their families and their schools. It is very difficult to fit 19 years of passion and knowledge into just a few short minutes when there is so much to say.

I must point out that I was in private practice and was not working within the HSE; my counterparts in the HSE had huge caseloads and very little job satisfaction where I was able to keep my caseload extremely low and was able to see students on a weekly basis and, therefore, see great results.

I know first-hand the struggles facing those with disabilities and their families. For example these are endless waiting lists, lack of respite hours, sacrifices made by full-time carers and bureaucratic hurdles just to access grants such as the housing adaptation grant, for example. These are not just abstract issues but are everyday realities for so many. I acknowledge the appointment of the Minister of State with responsibility for disability and I wish her well. I also want to thank her for for meeting so many of us so swiftly to hear and discuss our concerns. I also want to wish the senior Minister, Deputy Foley and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, the very best of luck in their briefs as we know that everybody is counting on us to deliver.

The establishment of a new disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach is also a step forward and now we can see that there is a sharp all-of-government focus on disability. Now is the time to drive action and to deliver this step change we know is needed. I personally feel that a culture shift is needed on how we view disability. Yes, we have to provide care, support and services but the drive and our focus should be on accessibility, access to society, access to independence and access to opportunities. When viewed through the lens of accessibility, we would not make someone walk from one side to the other to prove that they need a medical certificate. We would not make a disabled person give 24 hours to use a rail service and we would not place young people with disabilities under the age of 65 into nursing homes. When we provide people with disabilities with the proper supports and access, they will reach their full potential and when they reach their full potential, all of society will thrive.

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