Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and, instead of celebrating diversity and inclusion, it is with regret that I speak of our failure to prioritise disability funding, particularly for those who need wheelchairs to get around and access shops and other places in their communities on a day-to-day basis.

The waiting lists alone for the assessment of need by an occupational therapist for someone looking for a wheelchair is 28 weeks. Once one is assessed and given the green light, one is then placed on a second waiting list for funding for a chair. Waiting lists for the assessment of need are too long and it is disgraceful that the waiting lists for funding are so long. These are the most vulnerable people in our society and it galls me when we see such blatant waste of spending on other areas in these Houses and Dublin City Council when people who actually need a piece of equipment to get around are denied it. It is unfair.

My colleague has raised the closure of the Cuisle respite centre and holiday hotel for people with disabilities in Roscommon, run by the Irish Wheelchair Association. We need to look at exactly where we are spending our money and what are our priorities for people. It seems most unfair.

I also raise an issue around education. I would like a debate in this House on the introduction of free schoolbooks for primary and secondary education. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí; cáin an óige agus craolfaidh sí. It costs parents approximately €500 a year for books and other costs related to sending their children back to junior school. It costs approximately €1,000 a year for secondary school. That is a considerable amount of money and it would be welcome if we could give free schoolbooks and have a special system whereby parents would not have to go out and spend these amounts of money. I acknowledge that it is halfway through the school year now but, if we are having a debate such as the one I am proposing, it should be had in a timely manner to give the Department a chance to prepare for such a scheme. The cost of bringing in free schoolbooks would be 0.2% of the overall Department's budget. It is a small thing that would be really valuable. I would love to have a debate in this House on that matter.