John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his help. Friedreich's ataxia is called a progressive condition, but really what it does is weasel its way into every fibre of a person's body and takes him or her down. As a young person in her teens, she had expectations, like anyone would, even if they were only the ones her parents would want for her, but they were expectations of a half-decent life. She has had to deal with all those compromises and she and her family have had to take it on the chin. What is absolutely unacceptable is, as has already been said, a cut of almost half in what was already an inadequate amount of personal support hours. The three hours she had to help her stay at work were cut to 30 minutes. She talked about the consequential pain and anxiety she has regarding personal hygiene and toileting issues when she is at work, when she does not have that support. None of us need to come into this House or go on television to talk about our toileting needs, our ebbs and flows or our movements, but that is what someone felt she had to do in public last night.

There is no recovery for people with disabilities or their families. There is a continuation of the many cuts, and that, I am sad to say, is the fact and the reality. Last week I made comments to the Taoiseach here. I asked for confirmation that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD, would be ratified by the end of this year. I asked - not as a special plea - that the budget prioritise something to make sure that Ireland has a decent infrastructure for all of us and all our loved ones. I said that, of the modest amount of money available to him, €300 million would be a decent start to that. The Taoiseach said he will meet me, and that meeting will take place. He did not confirm that that legislation would be passed by the end of this year. That needs to be dealt with, as does the fact that he suggested to me afterwards that the €300 million will not be there. If it is, it is; if it is not, it is not. We will know on Tuesday. However, the bottom line is that people with disabilities - 600,000 people and their families - will continue to be on the wrong side of the recovery.