Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)

I wish to bring to the Minister of State's attention something that is deeply concerning for families in County Limerick and throughout the State, namely, the persistent and unacceptable wait times for domiciliary care appeals. I am acutely aware of a case involving a family in County Limerick who are in their 37th week of waiting to hear about the progress of their appeal. This delay is not just a bureaucratic failure but a human crisis for this family. I will give the Minister of State their story. This is a family with four children, one of whom is a 12-year-old girl with autism. She faces daily challenges no child should face alone. Her parents describe her as a sweet child, but one who struggles significantly throughout her day with sensory issues, social anxiety, dietary needs, communication and emotional regulation. She attends school but she cannot participate in most activities, school outings or sport. Birthday parties, team games and even basic social interactions are simply too overwhelming. She experiences what is known as autistic burnout and dysregulation, often daily. He mother explains how they manage this with incredible patience and care using scaffolding techniques, strict routine and structure to help her recover her sense of safety and calm. She still requires assistance with all aspects of personal care, including showering, washing her hair and dressing. She cannot tie her shoelaces or ride a bike.

Despite doing everything in their power to support their daughter, her parents have been refused domiciliary care allowance. They appealed that decision and the appeals officer received their document on 20 August 2024, but 37 weeks later there has been nothing. There has been no update from mygov.ie and no appeals officer assigned. When they rang for information they were told the appeal was simply still in the queue. In week 37, the family remain in limbo with no timeline, clarity or support. The mother said something that stayed with me. She said “We feel our autistic child is just completely invisible”. That is what this backlog is doing; it is making children with complex needs feel invisible.

During a recent training session, we were told by the Department of Social Protection that the disability and illness section is the fastest growing area of the Department’s budget, yet the appeals office still operates with delays dating back to the post-Covid period. This is simply not good enough. Families like this are not statistics but human beings under enormous emotional and financial pressure being forced to wait in silence while their children continue to suffer.

What is being done? Are there plans to recruit or second staff to the appeals office? Are there plans to expand the staffing and resources in this fast-growing sector? Without urgent intervention, more and more families are going to fall through the cracks. We cannot allow our system to punish people for needing help, and certainly not when it is for children.