Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

I appreciate that. As regards the 2021 disability capacity review to which the Minister of State referred and the projected need for a minimum of 1,900 residential placements by 2032, which we want to get to, and if we continue in the same vein of the previous four years, which is not mentioned in the response, with 140 placements opening each year, give or take, there will be 400 fewer than the figure. The same disability capacity review asked for an extra 3,900 placements needed to return to pre-2008 levels. This is shocking. For someone new to this House, it seems we are going backwards. This is political will, or the lack thereof.

It is not the same for many families and their sons or daughters. One family has been in contact with me. I have known this family all my life. I grew up with them and their sons, one of whom has a disability and needs access to residential placement. The place he is in for day services is something he and his family have fallen in love with. This gives great comfort to his family and his parents in particular. However, they cannot get a commitment as to whether or not he will have a residential placement should, God forbid, anything happen to either of them. They continue to fight long and hard for residential commitment or placement for him but to no avail. This is not the Ireland we want, and I know the Minister of State would agree with me on that. Having tried so hard to even get a meeting with senior management in the disability team of the HSE, they came out of that meeting two weeks ago with still no guarantee as to what will happen to their son. This family does not want sympathy or empathy; they want a firm commitment. However, that cannot be provided to them. When they make contact with me, they should be given the commitment. However, I cannot because I do not see a genuine commitment from the Government.

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