Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. She is welcome to the House. Fianna Fáil broadly supports this legislation, in particular, the regulation of professionals. We have some concerns about Part 3 relating to the statutory contributions for residential support services. If I understand this correctly, in this context we are probably talking about older people with mental, intellectual or physical disabilities who have been decongregated and are now living in the community, probably in housing provided by a local authority or a housing agency. I had the privilege in recent weeks of being in the company of such people who were attending a social function and I was very impressed by the provision for people who find themselves in that situation.

There is a reference to contributions in the Health Act of 1970 and there is cap involved in that respect. It cannot be greater than 80% of the State non-contributory pension. Perhaps more detail is needed on the charges because they will impact largely on very vulnerable people who already have their challenges in life and we do not want to add to their stress in any way. I would have thought that a fundamental change such as this should be based on a very broad inclusive and consultative process.

I wish to refer to a communication I received from the Disability Federation of Ireland. It states there has been no consultation with the sector regarding what we are now debating. It further states it has come to its attention that a committee was established to examine this that had members from the Department of Health and the HSE but none from the disability sector. It also states it will call for the Bill to be withdrawn to ensure that there would be full consultation. I would like to hear the Minister of State's comments on this. The communication goes on to state that the Bill does not appreciate the complexity and the diversity of the disability sector. That matter is worth debating and teasing out in this House. The communication states that with decongregation a number of people with disabilities are living in social housing and association housing in the community and that it is unclear how these charges will impact on them. It states that charges like this could discourage people from moving into the community, therefore, stalling the implementation of time in respect of moving on from congregated settings. There seems to be some confusion, and it may be in my interpretation, about what categories of residential services are included in terms of the charging scheme and what ones are not included.

Irrespective of the purpose of legislation such as this, and we have been told that it not about raising revenue and I accept that on face value, and if it is being introduced to improve services, we need to be sure we go about this in a way that will ensure we will not have to revisit it at a later stage.

To return to my earlier point about having the privilege of being in the company of people who avail of these types of services, I am impressed by those who provide these services directly as distinct from receiving a grant aid or subvention from the HSE. I am impressed at what they are able to do for people who are so old that they could very easily be forgotten about and for people with mental or intellectual problems. I see the way those people develop in the community when they come into a social setting, as distinct from what might have happened in the past where they might have been locked away and people almost being embarrassed about them. That was another culture and we have moved on a long way from that but I am sure the Disability Federation of Ireland did not write that communication without giving it a good deal of thought.

I am sure the federation did not write it just to be obstructive or confrontational in some way. Its members must be picking up vibes from those who are practitioners, including the professional people in the areas concerned. I am concerned, as are other members of Fianna Fáil, that in some way Members may be making their work more difficult because of the additional stress these provisions would put on people. I seek the Minister of State's comments in this regard because legislation is one thing and can be exceptionally prescriptive. However, behind that always must be the human aspect of the topic with which Members are dealing. The Minister of State has done a good job today in outlining the legislation for Members, but it is a completely different matter for the people on the ground and the recipients of those services about which Members are speaking because they do not think in legislative, legal or clinical terms. They simply ask themselves in what way their lives will be changed.

In the 1970 Act, it always was important that a small amount of money would remain for people. This was for themselves in the first instance, to maintain their dignity. However, one should bear in mind that there also are dependants, out in the real world, who still are involved. This is the point I wish to put forward to the Minister of State because I am sure that a lot of consideration already has been given to this issue. Nevertheless, to put their minds at ease, members of the Disability Federation of Ireland also should be able to hear this themselves. They should be reassured that Members would in no way take from the good work that is being done or from people's comfort of mind and above all else, from the voluntary input I can see being put into this area. I will conclude by observing that having got away from the archaic system of the past and in respect of those who make and have made their own contribution to life, I always have thought there is no such thing as a human being who does not make a contribution in some way, even by inspiring others by the manner in which he or she takes on board additional challenges. Therefore, my main concern is that it will be possible to reassure them that this is not about raising revenue but is about improving the service.