Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with my colleague on the overall description of the success of the Bill. I want to raise two aspects of it. I cannot stay as I have to head out to Hartstown for a meeting; that is why Senator Burke has kindly given me some of his time.

The first thing I want to raise is the hot school meals. This is one of the best initiatives this Government has introduced because it is practical, both in its effect on people's pockets and from a learning and health perspective. The Minister has overseen it from a pilot of 30 schools to 300 schools and now even more in 2023. I would like to flag with the Minister that there is an issue with special schools. I work with a special school in Dublin 15. It is in a DEIS area but does not have access to hot school meals. We should be including all schools in disadvantaged areas in the programme. There are 140 special schools in the country. We should offer the hot school meals to them as well, for all the reasons I have said. It is less hassle for parents and less expense. It is healthier and children learn better. Let us remember that these parents have enough on their plates - excuse the pun.

Regarding the domiciliary care allowance, it is fantastic that the Minister has increased it for the first time since 2009, that people are getting a lump sum and that she has addressed the anomaly around the hospitals. Parents tell me the form they have to fill out is 20 pages long. It is an arduous and sometimes emotional experience because it can be the first time parents of children with challenging care needs sit down and actually accept the care their children require. I would like the Minister to consider that. Is there a way around that 20-page document? It feels very intrusive for families. Could we say that for certain diagnoses, people do not have to fill out the 20 pages? Is there a way to look at making it more user-friendly and less stressful on the family? In 2021, 60% of applications were awarded on the first attempt. Then on the second attempt, when people appealed it, another 60% got it. If 60% are getting it on appeal, maybe the decision-makers are being too hard on the first attempt. I would like the Minister's views on whether there is a way to make the process more user-friendly and less stressful for families who are already under enough stress.