Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was sorry to miss most of the debate, but I did not want to miss making a contribution. It is not very often that I find myself saying that, when I visit Tyrone, I can see services that are working better than they are here, particularly in the current climate. However, that is what happens when it comes to respite care. I have family members who depend on respite care. It is regular, consistent and a lifeline for them. Then I find myself meeting people on the doorsteps, the parents who do not have time to come and visit me or the parents who have so much on their plate that the best place is on the doorstep to talk to them about their heartbreaking lifestyles and situations. Senator Seery Kearney has spoken about a family where a mother missed a funeral. That is an example of the pressure these families are under. They could be up all night or all week and then might have their respite care removed without adequate explanation and face a wall of bureaucracy in trying to secure it again. I have been in that scenario with too many families in CHO 9 in Dublin 15, where the response has not been what would be expected. The emails sent back to these families do not reflect in tone the situation they are in. They have been disappointing. Meetings have then been needed to actually get movement. I very much support there being an audit of respite services because they are thin on the ground. The system is difficult to access and navigate and for people to figure their way around it, which is unacceptable. I know the Minister of State knows this. She made assurances to me about the CDNTs in CHO 9. Unfortunately, they have not improved in the way we want. The pressures then, are on the families and there is also pressure in the schools. Teachers are trying to do their very best, but they, too, are under tremendous pressure because we do not have enough therapists.

I know the Minister of State was looking at blowing up the pathways, so to speak, to recruit therapists, but it is no comfort for people who get cold emails saying things like "You have been the waiting list since 2020 and your adult child is not getting the services they need". When it comes to early intervention, often the short intervention that would be required to assist a family goes on years. I am pleased the Minister of State is here and I know she is very committed to this. We really do need to see change.