Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach, leis an Cheannaire, le Seanadóirí agus na daoine uaisle. I welcome my guest, Lisa Domican. Lisa, like myself, is a parent. She is a full-time carer for her daughter Grace, who is 24 and has autism, ADD, epilepsy and PMDD. She also cares full time for her son Liam, who is 26. They are both beautiful young people. Liam has autism and an anxiety disorder that was exacerbated during Covid, which leads to behavioural disturbances and can be quite challenging. Lisa is a carer in the family home. We have been talking about this since the proposed wording was put forward by the Government for the referendums on which the people have spoken. Lisa is part of the invisible population of carers we have. She receives no respite and no supports. She cares full time for her adult children. She gets nine hours a week of support from the HSE in CHO 6. Because we have no rights in this country to independent supports, we have to beg. Lisa had to go to the day service and respite manager in disability services in CHO 6 and ask for a further nine hours.That manager, on a capricious whim, said she could get it, but not through her personal budget, and that she had to use an aged service provider of the manager's choice. This is typical of the mistreatment of families, carers and disabled citizens and the pushback on their alienable human rights.

Why are the explicit instructions of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the HSE to provide services and personalised budgets to organisations like Home Care Direct being openly defied by officials in the Department of Health. I am seeking a in order that we can get the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, in here to answer questions as to why his officials are refusing to carry out the instruction of the Minister of State and are acting completely contrary to the wishes of the Irish people. More than 1 million Irish people voted to vindicate the rights of independent care supports outside of the home. Lisa is the embodiment of this cruel, capricious and unnecessary pushback on rights. Why are CHO 6 and the day service and respite manager allowed to behave in this authoritarian and unfair manner?