Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Mullen's point on the importance of carers and the issue of respecting and appreciating them in society is important. Does it go far enough? Can we extend it? I have a vision that this involves a step-by-step approach. I see this as a small recognition of the amount of work carers have done. I also see it as part of four other things I have done in the past 12 months. They are: the restoration of the carer's grant to 105,000 people; the medical cards for the 11,000 children who were on the domiciliary care allowance; the €10 million for respite care; and the €14 million announced last Monday for the housing adaptation grants. I see it as part of the overall national disability strategy and as supportive of that issue.

With regard to Senator Colm Burke's point, I welcome the support. The Senator played a very important part in the nursing homes issue. When one looks at the costs of €1,000 - and it can go even higher - we need to be radical and creative and we need to see where we are spending the money. If we are not spending the money sensibly, it is important. Senator Burke also suggested we revisit the social welfare system.

Senator Devine gave her very strong support to the carers. I accept the point she made on her amendment. In an ideal world, I would love to broaden out the legislation and hers is a viewpoint I listen to. I also accept her point about the universal healthcare system. We have to go down that road and if we are going in that direction, we have to implement Sláintecare and stick to the plan. We have a plan here and that is a very important part of the plan. I mentioned the four or five things I have done in my portfolio on disabilities and carers are all part of the broader plan.

I thank Senator Dolan for his support on many issues. He sees this as an important step.I disagree with him slightly on the role of the media. I hope I do not get into trouble, like the Taoiseach the other day, and I take the Senator's point on the perception. As for the people who influence me as Minister, for example, I have heard loads of ideas in this Chamber from Members. Carers influence me, as do the disability groups. When I meet the Disability Federation of Ireland, DFI, or Inclusion Ireland, they influence me and I bring those things into the pot and to the Government as well. I listen to carers and try to implement what they are concerned about.

Senator Dolan has a valid point regarding people in those middle-income areas and I understand the limit in respect of the housing adaptation grant is €60,000. There are people who at times believe they miss out on supports, in particular with regard to carers, and we have to face that reality.

Senator Reilly has mentioned carers and acknowledged their achievement. He, like a lot of he Senators, envisages a role for an expansion of the scheme. He mentioned the importance of GPs and that we must make sure the carers are looked after.

Senator Higgins mentioned a lot of key things. She acknowledged the recognition of carers, which we all do, but we have to back that up. In respect of looking after carers, I totally agree with the Senator on linking into the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Senator also mentioned the half-rate carers issue, the carers support grant and the inclusion of carers in this scheme as well. These are issues on which I have an open mind and I take the point about people who feel left out of the system. If we are talking about inclusion, we have to look at that system. The Senator mentioned the medical card system as well. I was delighted to hear the Senator use the word "emancipation" because we have a long way to go. I know, from working with the National Disability Authority, that we also must bring the broader society with us, as regards their attitudes to people with disabilities and to carers. We need to ensure these people are respected and their rights are respected as citizens of this State and as people who want to make a contribution. The Senator mentioned the medical card and I just reflected on the fantastic people I met recently with disabilities who are in employment and who are not in receipt of a medical card because their salaries are high. The cost to them, because they have a disability, is much higher than the costs to the average person. That is something about which I have talking to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, in recent weeks and on which I have presented. We kicked off recently on the figures for the Estimates for budget 2019. I met representatives of the HSE and Department of Health officials the other day and we had our first meeting.

When talking about carers, another issue that is often forgotten about is the quantity of urgent need for people with disabilities who want to have their own independence and to have their own personal assistants. This is something I discussed before with Members, including Senator Dolan, and others. We need to ensure we increase the personal assistance hours for people with disabilities in order that they can be more independent and not dependent, as they want to get on with their lives like the rest of us. Let us look in that direction as well.

Let us be radical and creative. I thank my colleagues for some of the fantastic ideas I pick up here on the disability issue. I also acknowledge Members' support over the past two years regarding the vision of the rights of all persons with a disability and the rights of people as citizens, as well as to ensure we invest in the services and to make sure these rights are protected by implementing quality services.