Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)

I wish to address a matter I have raised before, namely, the need to provide ring-fenced funding for transport for those in receipt of adult disability day services. Currently in my county of Cork, there are 242 users of adult disability day services across 25 providers. The issue is that there is no transport provision or funding for a child using the services. These are provided until a child turns 18 but not after that. In certain cases, there is provision on a discretionary basis. This is grossly unfair. There are no guidelines and there is not even a means test. It is simply the case that those who shout the loudest seem to be successful. This is in no way fair because parents with a child or adult with a disability quite simply have enough to be dealing with.

Just last week, I received a call from a lady in my constituency whose son will turn 18 this August. Given that he will be 18 in August, he will not be allowed back in September to the special secondary school he has been attending. His peers of the same age in mainstream education will be going into the leaving certificate year. He is currently receiving transport to take him to and from his school and that will be cut off from September. His mother said to me that if she could turn things around such that, when he turns 18, his disability will leave him, she would do so in a heartbeat and a half. Unfortunately, she cannot do so. Her now-adult child, who has been receiving transport to a service until now, will no longer receive it from September.

As we know, carers and care providers are often caring not just for a child or adult with a disability. They may also have an elderly parent and other children in the house. Quite simply, it is not good enough that this pressure is being put on affected families. I believe the service was cut off in 2008. I seek ring-fenced funding. Maybe it involves a cross-departmental measure involving the Departments responsible for health, transport and disability. I urge the relevant Ministers to come to the House to discuss this.