Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is a person of her word. I am glad she came to UHL unannounced. It was great to see that she went there. I heard from staff and management that they were delighted to see her come unannounced because it gives her first-hand knowledge. She made that commitment to me. I told her I would work with her to help UHL. She has done the first part for which I thank her.

There is something else I will ask for the Minister's help on. A woman contacted me today who has three children aged between ten and 12 who have special needs. She has been separated for nine years and has worked all her life. She has very little support from her ex-partner. She works full time to try to cater for her three children, two of whom have special needs and are non-verbal. She qualifies for nothing. Every time she looks for something she is told that she does not qualify because she is working. If she gave up work, she could not care for the children herself because of their age. As she is working, she is being told that she qualifies for nothing. She has asked for a buggy for one of her children. The child, who is in a buggy for an eight-year-old, is now aged 11. If she has to go to UHL through accident and emergency, she has to put that 11-year-old child into a buggy meant for an eight-year-old. She is asking for help. As I said, she has worked all her life and is giving full-time care to her children. She does all the care herself at weekends, but to get them the care, help and all the resources they need, she is working. She is being told at every turn that she qualifies for nothing. I ask for the Minister's personal help on this. I will give her the details. I again thank her for fulfilling her commitment.

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