Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

The Minister is welcome to the Chamber. I wish her well in her very important portfolio, with the many challenges it has.

I acknowledge and commend Senator Clonan on his Bill. I was happy to sign it. I am happy to support it. I have always been an advocate of personalised budgets. I have some personal experience also, which I bring to bear. Throughout the disability matters committee, this was something I was consistent on. I ensured it went into the Fianna Fáil manifesto. I often spoke to the Acting Chair in her previous role on it. When there are motions and Bills that can be tabled with cross-party names, it is important we can extend that to others.

The option of having a personalised budget is very important and would make a huge difference to people’s lives, with them being able to have that independence and autonomy to be able to make decisions and decide the timings on different things.

I know some people who have been part of the pilot project. It is important that was established. It has been ongoing for the past four and a half years and will be completed next December. Some have found it very good and some have found it difficult. They have found the process very cumbersome. I can understand, knowing some of the families, because how we all respond and relate to a family member with a disability is different from family to family. It depends on siblings and parents.

I have met Eoghan. He is a fine young man. I know how proud he is of Senator Clonan, and I know how proud Senator Clonan is of him. That is hugely important, as I am so proud of my brother. When I sit down to talk to my brother, I know what he would far rather wish to do as opposed to what he is doing. At the same time, he has a fulfilling life and support. I do not doubt the Senator when he talked about how he was spoken to by the HSE, that his daughter should mind his son. I am shocked anyone would say that. I genuinely have to say that is not my experience, but it is completely wrong for anyone to experience that. The Bill is important because it takes the cost of the individual from the service provider. It is hard to speak about people in terms of the cost of the individual but that comes into it because budgets and legal issues come into it. These are very complex legal situations. I have no doubt about the body of experience that Senator Clonan has in terms of advising on the Bill but I am also very conscious of the Attorney General and the legal advice he and his team give to Cabinet members regarding ensuring that the Bill is robust and fit for purpose and will deliver what it intends to do without unintended consequences and any negative impact on the rolling out of such.

I understand that service providers are nervous about this. That is not my concern. We have excellent service providers but they cater for the median, if one can talk about a median person with a physical or intellectual disability. However, we know every individual has different needs and a having a personalised budget will support the gifts and talents these individuals have. In terms of decoupling, one family I know was delighted when they were able to enter into this pilot scheme. Their daughter was very involved in the Special Olympics so they were able to devote some of that budget towards supporting the local Special Olympics club and enabling their daughter to have transport to and fro. Transport is a major issue.

The Minister has asked for a timed amendment with good reason. It is about extending the time up to the end of the pilot project and to have an appropriate assessment to see the best way forward. While I certainly support the Bill and the principle behind it, I support the timed amendment. It is there for a good reason and I do not doubt the Minister's or the Government's commitment because not alone did we get it into the manifesto, it is in the programme for Government and there is a commitment to deliver this. I can say from this side of the House that I will be holding the Government to account.