Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State. We have to do more. These families in Kerry are suffering every single day of the week because of the chronic lack of respite for both children and adults with profound disabilities. They have been let down by the State. We have to help them and if we do not, we are all failures. Obviously, I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has made disabilities a priority for this Government, and rightly so. The bottom line is that we have to deliver an adequate number of residential respite beds for all the children and adults with disabilities and their families in County Kerry and throughout the country. It is a priority for the Government and the Minister of State is in a position to deliver this. She might speak to my party colleague the Minister for children and disabilities, Deputy Foley, who is well aware of the problem. I have met people on a number of occasions individually and collectively, particularly the mothers. Their stories are harrowing. It is just not fair. What is happening is illegal. It is criminal. They are at the end of their tether. It is 24-7. They do not get a wink of sleep and a lot of them cannot get respite for five, six or seven months. That is a huge crime and we should be embarrassed about it. I am begging the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Government to make sure that an adequate number of respite beds is provided both for under-18s and over-18s. It is something I made a priority when I was elected to Dáil Éireann on the night of 1 December at 10 o'clock. It is hugely important to me. We have many problems with our health service, but this is an area with chronic issues.

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