Mary Henry (Independent)

I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing his time. The Minister knows in his own heart that those who are so disabled that they need personal assistance have the greatest difficulty in getting care. To date, we have relied on community employment schemes to provide personal assistants for this group. They have been doing a very good job. However, as soon as they are trained to be useful to the person to whom they are assigned, they are frequently at the end of the scheme and must be moved on. This area must be mainstreamed. Core funding must be introduced so that those who have been trained as personal care assistants can continue to be employed in 19 hours a week care. They help to give those they care for lives outside of homes, independence and the chance to socialise. Introducing such funding in the budget would do a tremendous service, not just to them, but to the community itself. All Members want to see people who are not able to partake in society have that opportunity to become integrated into it.

The first time I went to Russia, I never saw anyone in a wheelchair. This was not because there was no one in Russia in a wheelchair but because no facilities or thought were given to ensuring wheelchair-users could become involved in social life. No matter what my complaints may have been about American society, one always saw people with disabilities getting a chance to become involved in society. I would be most grateful if the Minister could ensure these paid carers, at €12 an hour, are considered to be professionals in their jobs and allowed to continue in the positions they have been placed.