Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House on the matter. I believe all the issues I wanted to raise have been raised and I will not go back over them. Where HIQA makes decisions we need adequate follow-up within a reasonable period of time. I know the Bill deals with that. This morning I met a group of people who raised concerns about a facility that was closed down without adequate provision for where the people leaving that facility would be accommodated. It is important to have co-ordination of services where that arises. Senator Reilly made the very valid point that in all the facilities covered by the Bill we need to ensure that no person is put at risk.

I come to another matter that we have put on the long finger for a number of years, partly because of insufficient funding. Every week in my area I come across elderly parents who are looking after their children, often older people up to their mid-50s. Those parents are now finding it difficult to mind that child who has intellectual or physical disabilities. They find that all the doors are closed for them in getting support. They are worried that no facility will be available for their child when they are no longer there to look after him or her.

In Cork, approximately 1,200 people are in residential care with Cope with another 1,500 in day care. Owing to demand, that day care may need to move into a far greater level of support and I am not sure we have done any long-term planning in that regard.I am not sure if figures are available on the age profile of people looking after those who attend day care facilities. The demands placed on services in the next ten years will require that alternative means of looking after these people will be needed. This is a serious concern. I spoke at lunchtime to a woman whose husband was on his way to collect the couple's daughter from a day care centre. The daughter is aged in her mid-50s and for the past 40 years, her father has been driving her to a day facility every morning and collecting her every evening. The couple look after her at home at night but they are growing older and are concerned because there are no other family members who can look after their daughter. We must be careful to ensure action on this issue is not delayed. All these centres should be up to scratch at this stage. While I accept that this issue has been ongoing for many years, the Department needs to address it immediately because it is a matter of increasing concern for parents and families.

Health services need to be co-ordinated between various health service authorities and local authorities. Demands are being made to adapt accommodation to make it easier for parents and local authorities. I raised previously a case involving a person with a severe physical and intellectual disability. To be fair, the problem was resolved but only after seven and a half years and the intervention of the Ombudsman, which is not good enough. We must send a message to local authorities and the health service that they must co-operate to a much greater extent to ensure people with disabilities are looked after and can continue to live in the community.