Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)

As this is my first time addressing the Dáil since my maternity leave, I hope the Ceann Comhairle will indulge me in saying a few "Thank yous". First, I thank my colleagues in the Social Democrats for their ongoing support. I would like to say a special "Thank you" to our deputy leader, Cian O'Callaghan, for stepping in during my maternity leave. I would also like to say a heartfelt "Thank you" to the people of Cork South-West for re-electing me.

I would also like to acknowledge the loss last weekend of Councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy in my area and to convey my condolences to his family. He was an outstanding disability advocate and he worked tirelessly for the Bantry area. He will be sorely missed.

Today, I want to speak to the Taoiseach about disability. Despite all of the promises that we heard during the election, disabled people and their families are still being let down. During the election, the Taoiseach said that disability would be a top priority for his Government. He also said his Government would lead a step change in the level and scale of support for people with disabilities. Let us take a look at what that looks like. Nearly 16,000 children are now overdue on assessment of need, essential therapies and supports are still almost non-existent and hundreds of children are still left in agony waiting for spinal surgeries. The harsh truth is, and I take no pleasure in saying this, that the only things the disabled people are guaranteed by the Government are broken promises and a waiting list.

Despite the 2017 promise that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment, children like Harvey Morrison Sherratt have suffered years of delays, trauma and pain. Harvey waited years for the care that he needed, only receiving surgery last November when the curve in his spine had reached 130°, causing his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, restricting his breathing. After Harvey tragically passed away, his mother said that all he wanted was his iPad, Hunky Dorys, the odd lollipop and timely access to healthcare.

Harvey's parents, Gillian and Stephen, and thousands of parents like them around this country, have had to watch their children go for years without the intervention they need, feeling helpless and hopeless in the face of an uncaring system, knowing that every day means their children are further at risk of never reaching their full potential. Children are denied services and prevented from reaching their full potential at every step of the way. We are talking about the difference between a child being able to learn to speak or not - about being able to communicate - and the difference between somebody being able to live an independent life or not.

When disabled people become adults, any meagre supports they had vanish. We have the lowest employment rates for disabled people in the EU and one in five disabled people in Ireland lives in poverty. It is nothing short of shameful. Will the Taoiseach ensure that children waiting for spinal surgeries will finally get the treatment they need? Can the Taoiseach at least acknowledge that the Government is not living up to the commitments that it made?

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