David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate and welcome the individuals from the Centre for Independent Living who are present in the Visitors Gallery. It is a sign of how far we still need to go that this Chamber can only facilitate a very small number of people who have motorised vehicles or a wheelchair. We still have a long way to go even as a State in supporting people with a disability to live normal and independent lives.

I recognise that some positive changes have been brought about by this Government and measures were brought forward by the previous Government.

I support the motion with reservations because on previous occasions when we have discussed supports for people with disabilities, I have been critical of cutbacks in this area. I will restate my criticisms today because it is regrettable that resources have been taken away from people who desperately need them to live independently and enjoy a decent quality of life. My party supports the personal assistance service, PAS, the aim of which is to enable people with disabilities to live full and independent lives. However, if the goal is full participation in society, which Sinn Féin believes is legitimate and achievable, it is incumbent on the Government to ensure the service is adequately resourced. We will vote in favour of the motion but we have concerns about the funding of services for people with disabilities. The PAS aims to provide the assistance required by an individual with a disability to allow him or her to participate as a full and equal member of society. I doubt any Senator or the Minister of State would disagree with that aim but, unfortunately, it is not a reality for the many people who are not in a position to become full and equal members of society simply because we have not put the necessary resources in place. We do not yet have rights-based legislation that would support people with disabilities in this State. We have a long road to travel in this regard.

The remit of a personal assistant extends to all areas of life assistance for a person with a disability, including personal, social and employment needs both inside and outside of the home. The philosophy underpinning the service is empowerment and independence. This goes to the heart of why it is important to make the personal assistant system available to all who need it. Independence is a fundamental principle. A fully resourced and functioning PAS should lead to self-empowerment for a person with a disability, enabling him or her to overcome the disadvantages imposed by physical and sensory impairments.

People with disabilities who are in receipt of personal assistance do not receive a set number of hours because they act as leaders in directing the personal assistance in ways that can maximise their life opportunities. It is important, therefore, to recognise that the principle of personal empowerment distinguishes the PAS from home help services. Sometimes we fail to make that distinction, however. While home help is an important service, it lacks the empowerment aspect that is at the centre of the PAS. Under the home help service model, professionals decide the individual's needs and the emphasis is on providing basic personal care such as dressing and bathing. No consideration is given to an individual's ability to exercise control or choice over the provision and function of his or her supports. At a fundamental level, the PAS recognises and validates the right of people with disabilities to have autonomy and control over crucial aspects of their lives. The PAS offers an independent lifestyle not only to the person with the disability but also his or her family.

Without the PAS, there is a real danger that a person with a disability would be consigned to residential or institutional care. My party fully supports the de-institutionalisation of care and support for people with disabilities. This in area in which we can save money. Advocacy groups representing people with disabilities can point to numerous cases in which individuals were put into institutionalised care even though they would have chosen to live independently at home if the resources had been made available. The key issue arising is the failure of this State to provide a legislative grounding for a properly resourced and user-centred disability policy. We can put in place legislation, pass motions and say all the right things, but unless the resources are in place to back up our commitments, they do not mean anything.