Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)

I express my sincere condolences to the family of Natalie and Ella McLaughlin who tragically lost their lives last week in County Donegal.

I have met many wonderful community groups across Donegal and Ireland in the last few years. These groups do invaluable work caring for their loved ones day and night. One issue that keeps coming up is the cost of legal fees for people who have been diagnosed with dementia. People have enough to come to terms with when dealing with a diagnosis, telling their loved ones, consulting their doctors, trying to plan and get things sorted with the bank and getting solicitors. I have nothing against solicitors but it costs between €4,000 and €6,000 to get power of attorney. I call for the enduring power of attorney application to qualify for legal aid under the Irish system. These people need help. They have served their communities for years and then end up the way they are. Now is the time to do something to ease the burden. From talking to people who have been diagnosed, I know it turns their world upside down and their loved ones are left to try to sort out all the paperwork. I have nothing against solicitors charging fees but we could try to do something to have these fees covered by legal aid in some way.