Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for being here again. This is actually a positive day. I know the Minister of State will interpret my remarks as I intend them to be interpreted. They concern community service and disability, in the context of which we are here today. Everything we have been doing is under the framework contained in Disability Action Plan Framework: Review of Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032. There are a couple of points I want to make. I fully support the Minister of State and will work with her every step of the way on this.

There are several anomalies concerning assessment and intervention. In many cases, the delivery of a service or intervention never takes place. It is particularly concerning when one comes from a mild intellectual disability background or platform. Those in this category are excluded, which is a worry. The action plan framework, which we should all be asked to examine and work from, refers to day-service places for school-leavers, personal assistance and home supports, respite services, including alternative respite services, and residential care in the community. Let me start with the last of those, in respect of which I wish to make an appeal to the Minister and those charged with delivery at local level. I am told those over 65 with an intellectual disability and without a bed in a residential service are being offered nursing home places only. If that is correct, an ageist and ableist policy is being developed. Those who have been in a care centre or the community are having traditional supports removed and are being put into nursing homes that do not have the ability to deliver the supports they require.

Consider the point I made at the beginning, which was on the link between assessment and intervention. The link is quite broken. Assessment and intervention are separated and there is a time delay and an anomaly. There is no continuity of experience for those who need it the most. That needs to be addressed at local level on the ground.

The priorities in the document we have, action on which will be enabled by the Bill, concern the key role of respite in supporting family carers in enhancing service. While these are wonderful, aspirational words, I have some questions. Is there a lowballing of the numbers being provided for? Are they too low? Are we missing out? Have we a full and accurate picture? Are we underestimating the number of people who require school places and respite? I do not understand the delivery mechanism.

Regarding respite care or respite services, it is stated an increase in capacity to provide an initial 12 respite houses and a further increase of nine-----