Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for delivering the response. As she said, this is only the beginning. The ball has only been thrown in by me here today now. I see no reason that the qualifying criteria cannot be expanded to encapsulate and include Down's syndrome. I know people in each category of the qualifying criteria who have driving licences and can drive. People with Down's syndrome do not. It is a mobility issue because they cannot go anywhere without somebody else. People who meet any of the qualifying criteria can get about, so getting from one place to another is not an issue. All of the people in those categories can have driving licences and can drive.

As I said, I will be looking for the qualifying criteria to be extended to include people with Down's syndrome to improve their quality of life. I will give the Minister a passionate letter that I have received from parents about their child, Joseph. In it, they say that everything with Joseph is a two-man job. They also talk about taking part in the normality of life. That is the kind of language they use. It is very true because I know them and they are genuine people. This would make their lives a little bit easier. On that note, I will give this letter to the Minister of State and ask her to pass it on to the Minister, Deputy Noonan. I will be back with this one.