Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

I beg the indulgence of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to pay tribute to Fianna Fáil Councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy, who represented Bantry, Castletownbere and Skull electoral area and whose untimely death took place last Friday. His funeral is taking place as I speak this evening. Patrick was a councillor decades ahead of time. He had a great ability to bring people from right across the political divide with him. He was hugely intelligent and well spoken in politics but also in community. I am so sorry I cannot be with the people of Castletownbere and Eyeries tonight and tomorrow for the funeral of their greatest son, but Patrick Gerard would know that I have to be here. He would say that the show must go on. My sincere sympathies to him and family. It is appropriate that we are talking about disabilities as Patrick was in a wheelchair for many years. He fought that bravely and never in any way let his people down. He always worked hard for those people. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me the chance to pay tribute to him.

I welcome the publication of the national human rights strategy for disabled people. It is long overdue. Too many of our citizens and families in every parish in this country have been left waiting for basic dignity and fairness. The strategy is a step in the right direction and we should say that clearly. People in rural parishes and urban estates will not measure this plan by the glossy brochure launched in the Mansion House. Rather, they will measure it by whether their son finally gets his spinal surgery, their daughter finally gets access to a speech and language therapist or a parent caring for a child with profound needs finally gets the respite that has been promised time and again. This is the test and on that test the Government has failed too often.

The strategy refers to health and well-being, which is welcome. However, let us face the elephant in room, namely, the disgrace of children waiting for surgery and the scandal of children waiting two and three years to be assessed for basic supports. That is where the Government's credibility will be judged.

The Independent Ireland Party has been clear. We would abolish means testing for carers. We would pay carers properly and give them the training they deserve. We would build the residential and respite facilities that families have been begging for and expand training for occupational and speech and language therapists so that children are not left languishing on lists. Families do not want more pillars or promises. They want services they can see.

Education is another area where the plan must deliver. The Government talks about roadmaps and transitions, but where are the dates, resources and extra therapists in schools? Where are the supports for children moving into apprenticeships and college? We support inclusive education. The Independent Ireland Party backs apprenticeships, fairer access to grants and proper training for SNAs. Inclusion must mean that no parent has to fight every step of the way just to get their child a place, assessment or fair chance.

Employment is another area where the words do not match the reality. Too many people are trapped. They want to work, but they are terrified of losing their disability allowance or secondary benefits. The strategy states it will tackle benefit traps, which is welcome. We will hold the Government to account on that. The Independent Ireland Party believes in simple and flexible welfare rules. If a person takes up a job and it does not work out, they must be able to receive their payment again without months of bureaucracy. While targets in the Civil Service are well and good, the real challenge is creating jobs in every town and village and helping small local businesses to employ disabled people with real support.

Housing is central to dignity. The strategy is tied to the national housing plan, but housing for disabled people has been kicked down the road for years. Our policies are clear, namely, modular homes, cuts to VAT on building materials and bringing derelict houses back into use. If we marry those measures with universal design standards, we would see disabled people living independently in every parish in Ireland. Housing not a favour; it is a right to dignity and independence.

Transport and mobility are the keys to inclusion. Without them, equality is a false promise. Accessibility is not just a line in the strategy; it is the difference between being able to take up a job or not and being able to meet friends or being stuck at home. The strategy refers to accessible door-to-door journeys. We welcome that, but let us see what happens in practice. It means fixing the broken mobility schemes, upgrading buses and trains so they are fully accessible and, crucially, rural transport links because equality is not just for Dublin. If a person cannot get from a rural parish to a hospital appointment or a job, then all the fine words in the strategy mean nothing.

On accountability, people with disability and carers are sick to death of reports and reviews that go nowhere. Committees and glossy action plans mean nothing if nothing changes on the ground. We want hard targets which are costed and measured and timelines to be published in plain English. Progress should be measured not in press releases but in reduced waiting lists and better services. We support giving disabled persons organisations a real seat at the table and not token consultation but instead genuine power to shape delivery.

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