Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to speak to the subject of special needs and disability, not from the usual angle but from the angle of the families of these people. Through my current work and also through a previous life, I have assisted families with assessments of need applications, therapy applications, etc. I always found it difficult to deal with the families because many of them are hurt and let down. While I thought that might just be me being a sensitive soul - although many Senators might not think I am, I am - over the weekend, I spoke to a few councillors who are also helping families that are trying to move on with their lives with members who have a disability. I feel compelled to bring this issue up today to try to get the Minister in and to start a debate on this matter. I feel very helpless.

We can do things for the person with the disability - we can move them, try to get them up the queue, or try to get some monetary supports for them - but what about the families? For example, I spoke to one mother who has a six-month-old baby with special needs. She described it as like planning to go to France on holidays but the plane lands in Spain and you have a new life to plan. Everything just happens together. These families have a lot going on. It is also hard on siblings who have someone with additional needs in the family. It is called additional needs for a reason. There is a lot going on. I ask for some discussion on this matter for these families, please.