Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue that is very personal to me, namely inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and colitis. As someone who suffers from Crohn's disease, I know on a daily basis how it can affect a person. Over the past two weeks, I have been contacted by four people from south Kildare who are having difficulty accessing services because they suffer from Crohn's. In the first instance, a local authority has not allowed a person to apply for a grant for a downstairs bathroom because it does not recognise Crohn's disease as a qualifying condition.

I have been contacted by two other people in respect of similar matters. A lady approached me regarding an invalidity pension she applied for, but, again, Crohn's disease is not considered a qualifying condition. Anybody who suffers from Crohn's disease will tell you how difficult a condition it is to live with. There are almost 50,000 people in this country living with Crohn's, colitis and inflammatory bowel disease on a daily basis. I have spoken to Amy Kelly, the chief operating officer of Crohn's and Colitis Ireland, about this on a number of occasions. It does tremendous work, but is having difficulty in persuading Government of the difficulties of Crohn's disease and colitis and the difficulties people are living with on a daily basis.Given the time we have left, I ask that we make representations to the Ministers for Health and Social Protection. I also will raise it with the Minister this afternoon. Crohn's disease is a lifelong condition for which there is no cure. These people need the assistance of local authorities and of the Government at one of the most difficult times of their lives. I ask that we recognise Crohn's and colitis as the diseases they are and ensure the people that most need our help get it.

I want to mention the Dublin commuting zone. I was very worried and concerned about freedom of information items that were mentioned on my local radio station, KFM, as regards the Dublin commuting zone and train fares, as well as the unfortunate delays around this. Colleagues in this House and I have mentioned the commuting and short-hop zone on a regular basis. We had expected the new rail fares to be out before Christmas but unfortunately, we are now being told it will be quarter 1 of 2025. I urge the Leader to make representations to the Minister for Transport and the NTA once again, as I will also do. The people and commuters of south Kildare need our assistance. We continue to work with Jennifer Caffrey and her campaign and on campaigns by the Newbridge branch of the Labour Party on reducing train fares for people in south Kildare. It is not acceptable, given the freedom of information item that tells us that the delays could have been overcome. We need action. We need some fare reductions for those commuters now.