Ivana Bacik (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House. I thank her very much for giving us such a clear overview of the position on disability day services. I also thank her for her appearance before the Joint Committee on Disability Matters last week. It is very welcome to have such opportunities to debate with her the provision of services.

I acknowledge the importance of the Minister of State's statement that the provision of disability services is regarded as an essential public service. That is very much welcome. We acknowledged previously how important that is. I also acknowledge, as the Minister of State did, the immense work of both the HSE and service providers to ensure the continued delivery of safe services to person with disabilities. Notwithstanding that, the Minister of State also acknowledged there is still immense frustration among persons with disabilities and their families because services have simply not resumed to pre-Covid levels. I know the Minister of State is well aware of that and indeed she pointed it out herself.

Even before Covid-19 hit, day services were in the news for the wrong reasons, with service providers pleading for increased resources even at that point. In particular, service users were critical of the introduction of prohibitive transport fees for people travelling to day service facilities and people were left without sufficient provision on a temporary basis because of funding shortfalls or capacity challenges. All of that was the case, as the Minister of State well knows, prior to Covid-19, but clearly Covid-19 represented an inordinate and unprecedented threat to the continuation of disability day services.

I welcomed initiatives taken by the Government and the Minister of State, since taking up office, for example, the funding announcement of €10 million specifically for day services. That was very welcome. Nonetheless, the frustration continues and the level of provision, unfortunately, still remains far too low to meet the real needs of persons with disabilities and their families. I have been in regular contact with the Minister of State's office about a particular case in my area concerning a boy who really does need to be in school full time, and he needs the support to do that. I know that it is a somewhat separate issue but I will continue to make representations on his behalf to the Minister of State.

I also wish to raise with her today a particular case that, again, would be known to her, that is, the case of Philip Kelly. He and his family have given permission for their names to be used. They have been campaigning for some time now for the resumption of day services. Philip has Down's syndrome and in normal times he attends day services for seven hours a day, five days a week. Like many others, he and his family went without day services and respite care during the strictest lockdown and even now the service has only been partially restored. Neither he nor the staff who work with him know when he will be able to build up his hours again. The service is extremely careful in terms of the provision of a safe service, yet the service is just not fully available. That is one example in my area in Dublin of the sort of frustrations that are experienced. The frustration of families and staff is immense, as they do not know when they can resume services in the normal way.

It is clear that there is a need to help facilities with adaptations to facilitate social distancing and to ensure safe and hygienic facilities. Sometimes facilities kept service users outdoors during the summer and autumn but that becomes more of a challenge going into the winter. Many families feel it is a continual battle to try to achieve the necessary services. The knock-on effect where the services cannot be continued or where they are only being provided in a reduced way is very clear to anyone who knows anyone with a disability, who has been dependent on the facilities. There is a serious impact on mental health and progress. I have heard in my office - I am sure that is also the case with others in the Chamber - reports of individuals who have regressed because of the lack of provision of day services. This is a serious issue for young adults and older adults alike. Key developmental milestones are being missed for young children with disabilities without important intervention such as speech and language therapy and physical therapy. It is a matter of grave concern to all of us that we are seeing this level of regression because of the knock-on effect of the crisis.

Carers too are being severely impacted. One carer who contacted my office said it felt as though a lifeline had been taken away by the removal of day and respite services. That is not an unusual description of the impact. The transition to working from home has been burdensome generally for many people across the State, but for those with additional caring responsibilities arising from the reduction in day service hours, this is particularly hard. Family Carers Ireland published a survey on caring through Covid. I know the Minister of State is well aware of it. The results pointed out that 60% of carers who responded reported that they worried about a decline in their own mental health and well-being as a result of the increased care burden during Covid.

Previously, in contributions on the issue I invoked the mantra of "build back better". That is really what we need to see happen in the disability services sector, in particular in the provision of day care services.

Inclusion Ireland's report from July of this year on day services pointed out certain priorities for the Government in terms of our exit strategy from Covid restrictions. They include the timely reopening of day services, the full restoration of services and supports in line with new directions, funding for Covid-19 adaptations, access to therapy and respite services and, above all, that the voice of the service user is central.