Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As well as all the advocates, I wish to recognise the parents of children with disabilities. They are the people I meet every day who struggle so much. They have to fight so hard on behalf of their children and when their children become adults with intellectual disabilities. We have to address this issue, and we have a huge responsibility. That is why I, together with my party, Sinn Féin, welcome the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, especially, as the Minister of State noted, on the happy occasion of World Down Syndrome Day.

Since 2007, when Ireland first signed the convention, we have argued both in the Oireachtas and outside it that it needed to be ratified without delay. This convention provides a framework to promote, protect and ensure the rights of all people with disabilities and promotes equal rights in all areas of life. These are the basic fundamentals that should be afforded to any person in a decent and modern society, able-bodied, disabled or otherwise. While all agree the ratification of the convention is most welcome, I must stress that it is only the first step and I believe the Minister of State recognises that. The real measure of delivery of the rights that are contained in the convention will be in its timely and speedy implementation. We are fully conscious that a raft of legislation must be introduced, amended or enacted to afford the rights that are enshrined in this convention.

People with disabilities in Ireland have long suffered at the hands of both the current Government but successive Governments. The phrase, "put your money where your mouth is", is particularly relevant when it comes to disability rights in Ireland and I appreciate the Minister of State has addressed the issue of personalised budgeting. In his response, the Minister of State should indicate when that report will be completed because parents of people with disabilities are waiting for that report and for personalised budgeting. This is not just an issue of resources. We need to be able to track where the resources are going at present, and where they have been going. We have to make sure that they get to the people with disabilities and their families to improve their quality of life and increase their access. We cannot do that without transparency around where exactly the money is going.

In the 2018 budget there was little mention of the resources to implement the comprehensive employment strategy for persons with disabilities to which the Minister of State referred. People in receipt of disability allowance were afforded the crumbs of the table with an increase of €5 per week. Given the extra costs that arise for people with disabilities, €5 a week just does not cut it.

The rights that are afforded in this convention can only be delivered with the necessary immediate allocation of resources. This is especially relevant with regard to the ongoing preparation for the 2019 budget. It is important to discuss this issue today because, as Senator Conway and the Minister of State have noted, as we prepare for the budget, money must be ring-fenced to make sure that this ratification means something.

The convention will be rendered useless and the status quo will remain in place without these additional resources. I appeal to the Minister of State to not allow this situation arise and to not further fail persons with disabilities. We all know that travel on public transport can be a nightmare for people with disabilities. The email all Members received from two avid campaigners about their journey to Leinster House for the Dáil debate on this issue was the height of irony. In it, the sisters described how they left Greystones, County Wicklow in their wheelchairs and got on the 4 p.m. DART with no personal assistance. These are two women who have fought extremely hard for disability rights in Ireland. When their day had finally come, they described the effort required to be at Leinster House as being monumental. The Government has failed to show it really cares for children or adults with disabilities.

I must also raise the issue of respite care with the Minister of State. A response to a recent parliamentary question tabled by Sinn Féin revealed that the number of nights of overnight respite care provided to children and adults with disabilities has dropped by more than 22,600 in the past three years. We need to be straightforward and honest about what resources are available. Overnight respite is vitally important for allowing other responsibilities to be attended to and for the running of a normal household where a valuable member has complex medical needs. There is much more I could say on this. I trust the Minister of State. I trust that he is going to do the right thing and that we are going to see real, tangible changes. The changes must really matter to people of all abilities and people with disabilities. Funding must be provided and must go where it is needed and most deserved.