Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Deputy Leader to her new position. The last few speakers referred to our disability services. I want to talk about the lack of adult day services. This morning, two people I will call "Mary" and "Paddy" got in touch with me. Mary is 79 years of age and Paddy is 78. They have a son who is 49 years of age who has not been able to access day services since 11 March. That is wrong and it shows neglect by us, as elected representatives, and by the HSE that elderly people have been left without any resource whatsoever to help them care for those young or middle-aged adults with disabilities.

I, too, would like to see the Minister of State with responsibility for disability come before the House to tell us what the plan is in respect of those disabled adults and to tell us who will care for them in their later years. They have been forgotten during the Covid-19 pandemic and that is wrong. We do not want to let those people down. Nobody gives them a voice here. I am here for Mary, Paddy and their son, Brian. I ask the Deputy Leader to please get the Minister of State in here to tell us what she is going to do to restore day services. Services at An Cosán in Navan have been closed since 11 March. We need to help these elderly parents deal with their disabled children.