Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

Táim anseo today to speak about an issue related to disability services in my constituency but which affects the wider Dublin area and the country. I will speak about St. Michael's House and about a constituent whose issue I have raised and want to raise again today. St. Michael's House on the Ballymun Road provides a range of services and supports for people with disabilities and their families, from residential supports and independent living to clinical support, day supports and respite. St. Michael's House is also a lead agency for the Dublin CDNT, which supports thousands of children and also has a waiting list for day services.

I want to talk about residential services for older service users. There is currently a residential waiting list for 55 individuals: eight are aged 66 and over, 22 are aged 46 to 65, 15 are aged 31 to 45 and ten are aged 18 to 30. Forty of these individuals are classified as high risk, highlighting the urgent need for placements and increased resources to provide care for them. Unfortunately, due to resource constraints, St. Michael's House placed a pause on new additions to the residential waiting list from 14 March this year.

An issue facing families across the country and my constituency concerns children who are now adults and who have disabilities. Their families are deeply concerned about what will happen when the parents pass away. Who will care for their children? There are also those who do not have the capacity to provide care for their children any more because they have got too old or the needs have increased to the point that it is not sustainable for them to continue to provide care in the home. As I have outlined, there are significant waiting lists.

I have been contacted by the parents of a woman - their youngest child - who is 32 years of age.

She has Down’s syndrome and associated medical and health issues. As well as Down’s syndrome, she has a visual impairment, mobility and balance issues, sleep apnoea, for which she uses a machine, and speech and language difficulties. She attends a St. Michael’s House day service from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. She really enjoys going and participating in the various activities but there are no respite or social supports outside of this for her parents, who are now in their 70s. They are physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted. Their enduring worry is what will happen to her when they die. There are no residential places available for her. The Minister of State can think about that emotional and mental exhaustion of parents in that situation, who are concerned about what will happen to their child when they pass on. Where will she be minded? Who will look after her?

Services like St. Michael’s House are struggling to keep up with demand for respite and residential care, which is leaving families in unimaginable and unsustainable situations as they worry about what will happen to their adult children. Between hospital staffing costs, operation costs and, crucially, the lack of multi-annual funding, they are projecting a funding deficit for 2025. If the Minister of State can give me a response to these questions, I would appreciate it.

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