Teresa Costello (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State. I am raising this really important issue today as it is one that I have encountered in my own constituency. However, I must admit that it was not a scenario I had ever considered until I came face to face with people living it and, unfortunately, it is one that affects many families throughout our country.

The role of our carers cannot be understated. Unless you have experience of being a full-time carer, you could not possibly comprehend the day-to-day of their lives. Any one of us, through circumstances outside of our control, could become a carer. It is a role that can happen through an accident or the illness of a loved one. Others become carers on the day their child is born.

To dedicate your life to the care of a loved one is admirable, but the hidden sacrifice and struggle is immense. I would like to concentrate today specifically on the challenges faced by elderly parents who are still caring for their adult children with disabilities. These people provide care at home for their children and, as they age, they worry about what will happen when they are no longer able to care for their child, and I say "when", not "if". I was struck last week while listening to an interview with elderly parents who care for their 40-year-old daughter who has an intellectual disability. This couple expressed how they are genuinely concerned about what will happen to their child, again, when, not if, they can no longer care for her. The father even went so far as to say that they hope their daughter goes before them. Take a moment to reflect on that statement. This heartbreaking statement is a sentiment that is echoed throughout this cohort of people.

According to recent figures, more than 2,000 people aged over 70 are providing full-time care for their adult sons and daughters; 500 of those parents are now aged over 80. As a parent of a child who does not have a disability, I worry what the future holds for him. For a parent of a child with a disability, who is vulnerable, incapable of advocating for themselves and who relies on the care of others to have their needs met, I cannot imagine the worry they feel. The Minister herself has said that disability services in Ireland are coming from a very low base and she acknowledged that a particular emphasis has been placed on emergency planning and not enough on forward planning. A low base, where the most vulnerable in our society are concerned, is unacceptable. A low base can no longer be the standard, and we cannot operate on a system that often reacts only in crisis. Emergency is the least effective, most distressing and most expensive way to support a person to access their rights.

Today, I ask what forward planning is in place to support elderly parents in the care of their adult children who have disabilities when they can no longer provide care? If there is no plan, what plan is going to be put in place? What these people are asking for is not a luxury; it is a necessity. These parents need to be certain that when they need to step back, when illness forces them to, there will be a safe, local and permanent place for their children to live. The Minister has spoken of the need for a new mindset. That mindset must include enough funding for residential places, providing clear and accessible information for families, offering respite, planning supports and ensuring that adults with disabilities can live in homes that keep them connected to their communities. Parents who have devoted their whole lives to being carers should be entitled to take a step back when they can no longer provide care and live out their later years and enjoy their child. Most importantly, they should be able to die in peace knowing that their child will be cared for and loved just as they were when they were alive.