Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Ministers of State, Deputies Naughton and Moynihan, well in their new roles. The opportunity to make this statement is timely. I am moved to refer to the heart-breaking interview on the "Oliver Callan" show last Friday of Radie Peat and Dan Lambert about their daughter who has non-verbal autism. They eloquently articulated the horrendous difficulty parents and their children with special needs face in seeking early diagnosis and intervention. As a GP, their story is the reality for many parents. Theirs is a constant battle to obtain services that should be a right. Every day lost to early intervention is an irretrievable cost. Those with the least resources suffer the most. Radie and Dan waited 18 months for an assessment in 2023 only to be placed on a five-year waiting list for intervention. They reflected the frustration and anger that thousands of parents feel. We have ageing parents who have dedicated their lives to caring for their children with special needs, yet they are unable to plan for their children's future. Minimal planning is available. I recall a mother who cared for her son with severe intellectual disability for 48 years. At 80 years of age she sought residential care for her son. After years of requests, she was told it would be sorted out when she was gone. When she died suddenly from complications following a hip fracture, his long-term care was arranged within ten days. A lifetime of struggle should not have ended that way.

Disabilities can take on diverse forms, some easily recognisable while others remain hidden from view. Each person's journey is distinct and deserves to be understood on its own terms. I welcome the programme for Government's renewed focus on disability committing to the UNCRPD and prioritising a national disability strategy with a vision for 2030. I also welcome the establishment of the disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, which will give weight and focus to delivery. The strategy must be underwritten by principles of equality, accessibility, the right to live independently, the right to education, adequate healthcare, employment and the right to participate in daily life. I welcome the recognition of carers in the programme for Government. In the context of an existing €6.5 billion spend, we must ensure funding is directed to the most vulnerable. If reform is required, we should embrace it. Ireland has lagged behind EU counterparts in supporting people with disabilities. We must move forward proactively. I know the Minister's personal commitment and that of the Taoiseach to this issue. To quote St. Francis of Assisi: "Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

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