Erin McGreehan
Louth · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The Tánaiste might have heard that there is a bit of excitement in Louth at the moment. I do not know if anyone has missed it, but Louth is into its first All-Ireland football semi-final since 1957. This is not just one brilliant season for Louth GAA, however. Louth GAA is on the rise and, thankfully, so too is our stadium.”
“Our stadium is becoming a field of dreams for all of us Gaelic lovers and sports lovers in County Louth. The county board, players and supporters are all doing their part and we ask the Government to finish the job.”
“It is great to have the Minister in the House this morning. I very much welcome the opportunity to have a discussion of a practical nature that will solve this issue and have really positive impacts on patients, staff and the wider health service across the north east.”
“The unit's reputation is such that people regularly travel there from well beyond Louth. There were lots of Dublin accents to be heard in the accident and emergency department when I was there last Saturday. They did not even know that Louth was playing on Sunday. It was all about Dublin.”
“There is one significant limitation, however. That is why I am speaking here this morning. It is slowing down or delaying some of the excellent work that is being carried out. At weekends, the X-ray department only operates from 12 noon until 8 p.m.”
“Every patient who can successfully be treated in Dundalk is one less patient for another hospital to treat. Extending X-ray availability across the entire opening hours of the minor injuries unit seven days a week would improve patient flow, reduce waiting times, enhance the patient experience and further reduce the pressure on the emerge…”
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“I thank the Minister of State, and I understand she is reading out an answer from the Department and it is not her line responsibility. I am getting a huge of sense of frustration here. My question was on the financial support. The Minister of State said that certain treatments are available in Ireland and therefore, it is a "No". I am sorry; this is not a normal situation, where the trust breaks down. I will repeat what I said: if there was even a hint of a suggestion that my children were operated on wrongly or unnecessarily, I would not let anyone in that hospital touch them. Their little bodies are precious. To a point, it is disingenuous of the Department to come back here and tell a parent that the hospital should be trusted with the dignity and integrity of their child's little body.”
“These families need immediate access to independent care pathways, financial support to access second opinions and trauma-informed services. Most of all, they need to know they are not alone in this. They felt abandoned by the hospitals, they feel abandoned by the doctors and they are desperately worried about their children. What happened is deeply serious. The outcome depends on how the State responds. Supporting the families would send a message to every family in the country that we will treat our children with respect and dignity and that we value accountability, and it would show that our healthcare is worthy of trust.”
“As a mother, I would not let them near my child if I thought there was a hint of a suggestion that surgeries had been done that were not necessary. Many of these families are scraping together whatever money they can find to seek second opinions, mostly going to Northern Ireland, to ensure their child receives safe and trusted care. That situation should not exist in a functioning healthcare system. It is not acceptable these parents are paying out of pocket for something the State should ensure. Potentially, parents are getting loans to do this. Let us be very clear. This is not the Government's fault but it is absolutely the Government's responsibility. Responsibility means stepping up with supports the families can trust. Sympathy is not enough; we need action.”
“More importantly, an audit will not sort out the issue I raise, which is that the families want and deserve financial supports. They want to be compensated or to be facilitated in getting their children treated elsewhere. Parents no longer know whether their child needed the surgery and no longer trust the hospital, the consultants or the system. Many of them are asking the heartbreaking question: was my child operated on needlessly? If that was the case, it was a grave violation and nothing short of a serious assault on that child. Can we as a Government and society seriously expect the families to return to the same hospital for follow-up care, check-ups and X-rays? Can we ask them to place their children back in the care of the system now they believe they could be harmed by that system? It is not tenable or reasonable.”
“I am speaking on behalf of the families whose lives have been turned upside down by the hip dysplasia scandal, particularly those who have sat in my constituency office in Dundalk over the past couple of weeks upset about the care for their little children. How is the Department planning to support those families to get treatment and follow-up care for children who have had surgery for hip dysplasia? These families did everything right. They brought their children to hospital and trusted the system. They believed the care their children received was necessary and in their best interests. Now the families are in limbo. The recent audit is welcome, necessary and important, but let us be honest: it has not brought certainty and will not bring trust or confidence in the system. Instead, it has brought fresh fear and confusion.”
“We must ensure the private sector is not the one winning out, that staff in our public sector are encouraged to stay in it and that the State provides the required service in the most efficient way. As everyone in this House, including the Minister, has said, the waiting lists are unacceptably long. Early intervention is critical given how children develop so rapidly at an early age. Every month and week is important. We need to ensure people with developmental delays and special needs are seen quickly. Our system is not working for anybody, including staff, children and families, and it is not working for the State. In this House, we have identified endless problems and also some solutions. We must be unapologetic in pointing out problems. There will be feathers ruffled but we need to make a change.”
“We must ensure we enhance their rights and that practitioners can look after children, determine what they need and support them from a very early stage. We need to examine the legislation to determine how we can change it for the better. We must ensure we direct the therapists and streamline the services. We must ensure the services are in place to assist children more quickly than at present. This is all going to be very challenging politically. I was glad to hear the Taoiseach speak today about how the Minister and her Department have been asked to come back with proposals for changes. We need to make sure that we hire from within the public sector. If we outsource constantly, we will only encourage the private sector to grow.”
“As the Minister well knows from her constituency office, families are struggling to survive, to be heard and to get the help they need for their children. We need assessments of need to identify and address the specific requirements of the children who need therapies, educational supports and other services if they are to reach their full potential. However, the current system is riddled with inefficiencies, delays and obstacles that prevent our children from receiving timely assessments of need. We need to act fast. However, the system is anything but fast. Respectfully, we need to be able to change it, be it through legislation or otherwise. I am not sure whether it is a question of legislation but it cannot be a matter of diminishing the right of children to get an assessment.”
“We are not giving these professionals the space in which to provide the services to the children who most need them. It is incumbent on us to ensure the HSE looks after the staff in question, gives them the supports they need and fills the teams as soon as possible. We need to attract more staff. We want them to enjoy the incredibly valuable work they do. The recruitment and retention of therapists are so important. We must consider the mutual recognition of qualifications across Europe, including the UK, to enable us to attract more therapists from overseas. In addition, as other Members have stated today, we must consider how we can train people and put them through our colleges. We hear about apprenticeships. In this regard, we must consider how we can train people to ensure they are working in our health services.”
“It is a disgrace that over 15,000 children are waiting for an assessment of need, and also that thousands upon thousands of children are not receiving care and the therapies they need. So many times, I had in my constituency office in Dundalk people who told me their children had aged out of the system and had not received one appointment in their lives. This proves the system is entirely broken. It is safe to say that we must shake it up completely. Before I go on, I must pay tribute to the staff in the services. They have very important jobs caring for our children and trying to give them the tools to thrive. They do so within a system that ties their arms behind their backs. We have to be cognisant of the staff. They are overworked and, in most cases, on a team with a vacancy rate of 50%.”
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak on this issue. I wish the Minister very well in her role. Having listened to everyone who contributed, I believe there is not one Member across these Houses who is not inundated with queries and concerns over children’s therapies, waiting lists and assessment of need. So many of us are supporting parents and families to get services for their children. The difficulty with the assessment of need process, the waiting lists and vacancy rates is that they are all leaving the children’s families in limbo. The services are failing the families. It is a matter of absolute urgency and it directly affects the well-being and future of our most vulnerable population, our children. It is nothing short of a stain on our health service and society.”
“We have a huge skills shortfall. It is essential the Minister leads a body of work that highlights these gaps and looks to future gaps we do not even know about yet to ensure we plan to fill them by investing in our tertiary education offerings and improving our economic outcomes. We should also look at our existing institutions, including Dundalk Institute of Technology and Louth and Meath Education and Training Board. We can really create the opportunities. I look forward to seeing the Minister's policies create opportunities. I also look forward to working with the Minister and Minister of State on these issues.”
“This means tackling the high dropout rates head on. It means recognising that the cost-of-living crisis, the lack of affordable accommodation and the mounting pressure are real barriers for students. If we want them to succeed, we need to ease those burdens so they can focus not on survival, but on thriving and innovating. Of course, none of this exists in a vacuum. We need a broader ecosystem that supports not only education but also innovation and employment. This is why increased investment in research and development is so critical. We want our graduates not just to have degrees but to have world-class opportunities here at home to innovate, lead and help shape the Ireland of tomorrow. Skills development and workforce planning is another essential pillar of economic empowerment in the face of changing demands.”
“Targeted investment in renewing high-value equipment would unlock capacity quickly. This is low risk and high return. Infrastructure will enable research excellence, support enterprise, drive innovation and attract EU and private co-funding. We know the talent is there. Young people, and everyone else, are hungry to learn. They are fascinated by how things work, how problems get solved and how they can make a difference. We are seeing this in action. Just recently, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, announced €6.5 million in funding for over 40 STEM engagement initiatives. One brilliant example is the all-Ireland STEM passport for inclusion, which is supporting over 5,000 students, particularly girls and students from DEIS schools. Once students choose a path, we need them to stay on it and thrive.”
“I ask, and the Minister touched on this in his contribution, that as part of this package, the Government commit to invest in research equipment. Currently, a lot of the infrastructure is outdated and, as the Minister rightly said, there is a real need, as recognised in the programme for Government, for a new programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI. It is needed to provide integrated financial support for research. Research infrastructure is the foundation for a high-performing innovation system. Without it, talent, ideas and investment cannot translate into a national impact. Currently, we do not have the infrastructure to support the growing ambition to tackle and address the challenges from health and AI to climate to culture and public policy.”
“As we navigate through a period of profound change driven by technological advancements and shifting economic and political landscapes, it is more important than ever to recognise the pivotal role education and innovation will play in driving economic growth, fostering competitiveness and creating sustainable prosperity. We have a responsibility to find the ways that foster and cultivate talent and create the environment that will drive innovation and research. On that note, I am very glad today that the Minister has received Cabinet approval for a global talent initiative that will see investment in attracting top academics and researchers to Ireland. It is exciting to read that the Minister is actively focusing on the areas of research and innovation, medical technology, renewables and food technology. It is a huge opportunity for us.”
“It was transformative and we have a positive and proud record. Now, 85 years on, let us make another impact. Our continued social and economic progress relies on a skilled workforce. We must be focused on equipping young people and those returning to education with the necessary tools to achieve this. Creating diverse training and education opportunities through apprenticeships and further and higher education sectors, North and South, is important. By acknowledging the transformative power of higher and further education, research and skills, we can unlock the crucial economic enablers that will give this country the skills it needs to be the leader we want it to be. To say I am ambitious for this sector and what it can achieve is an understatement. We are in a rapidly evolving world.”
“I thank the Minister for sharing time on this hugely important issue. As he will be aware, I was recently honoured to be appointed by An Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, as Chair of the Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I look forward to working with the Minister responsible, the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, and the committee members from across these Houses to add our voices to the future of this sector. The importance of this sector cannot be underestimated. Investing in education is an investment in our economy. Expanding access and excellence in further and higher education has been a core priority for Fianna Fáil for much of our party’s history. As the Minister mentioned, it goes back to the 1940s when Éamon de Valera established the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.”
“There is a great opportunity on this island for generating energy in a sustainable way and I am ambitious for what we can do. I believe we can be a leader and part of that is infrastructure, capacity on the grids, storage capacity, but also capital infrastructure that is needed to maintain the offshore wind farms. Greenore Port in County Louth is in a perfect position to be an incredibly valuable asset for the country, North and South, as it has planning permission for new operational and maintenance facilities. This should be considered as a North-South project, potentially under the shared island unit. I ask that the Taoiseach would ask his Department to look at how the State can support Greenore Port so that it becomes an asset for the entire island.”
“As the Taoiseach is aware, Louth GAA had a successful application under that fund. We need this financial support for phase 2 of the project. Phase 1 will be commencing soon and is mostly funded by Louth GAA through its fundraising, which is supported by the people of Louth, and clubs' contributions. We need support for phase 2. We do not have a county stadium. We deserve one. Our champions and future champions deserve one. When is it planned to have the next round of the large-scale infrastructure fund allocated? I want to ensure that Louth GAA is at the top of the list.”
“The Taoiseach might have heard the wee bit of news that came out of Croke Park on Sunday evening, with Louth winning the Leinster final and the Delaney Cup after 68 years of waiting. I must apologise for my voice; I got a bit hoarse during the celebrations. Louth GAA is most definitely on the up. We have two Leinster titles under our belts this year, the men's senior and the under-20s titles. There are another two to go. I can tell the Taoiseach that the people of Louth have been lifted so much. There were tears in my eyes and the eyes of my children on Sunday. I pay tribute to all involved in Sunday's historic win. Hopefully, we will come through in the ladies' final against Carlow on Sunday in Mullingar and the men's minors against Offaly on Monday in Newbridge. I wish to raise the issue of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund.”
“The Land Development Agency claims it is committed to meeting the need for affordable homes for purchase and rent across the country. In Dundalk, we have had no workable affordable housing scheme available to the people of Louth as yet. We have three sites identified at which the LDA says it can build up to 1,000 homes. To date, we have seen no real action on making this a reality. Dundalk is a thriving town and a home of very important economic growth for the country. Housing is key to unlocking more growth in the area. I want the Government to make Dundalk and towns like Dundalk a priority by ensuring that they have affordable housing schemes.”
“Will he expand the eligibility criteria and enhance the level of funding to companies that want to export to new markets? I also ask that Enterprise Ireland would take the lead and support the small exporters who do not have that in-house capacity to do those things and who are now potentially in panic mode as they see orders reduce from the United States. I ask that the Department expedite the work of the small business unit. As the Minister knows, larger employers in the local economy will drive the small business. It is hard enough to be a small business owner at the minute with the cost of doing business in this country, never mind with the external risks we have now because of the US tariffs placed on these businesses. Will the Minister respond to that in his closing speech?”
“The Irish Whiskey Association has said that these tariffs could bring devastating impacts to the spirits sector as the US represents 41% of Irish drinks exports every year with total value of the market calculated at €865 million annually. These are local jobs that have provided fantastic, long careers for many of my neighbours and friends in County Louth. These are ordinary people who will suffer at the hands of Trumps ideology. I am thinking also of one of our largest employers in County Louth, WuXi Biologics, a huge pharmaceutical company. When there is no certainty, it can hamper development and growth and prevent the establishment of the new companies. There are loads of uncontrollables. I am asking the Minister to control the stuff we can control. Will the Minister expand and enhance what Enterprise Ireland is currently doing?”
“It represents a huge challenge for Irish exporters to the US across all sectors. I am already hearing from some who are seeing orders from the US slowing down or even drying up entirely, putting valuable skilled jobs at risk. I hear of rumours of companies going to a three-day week and there is more to come. We have yet to see the approach by the US and what it will do for the pharmaceuticals, semi-conductors and the other sectors excluded from the so-called reciprocal tariffs. I am thinking of my constituents in County Louth and the impact it may have on the strong and vibrant economy we have in the county. Cooley Distillery and Teelings Distillery are distilleries selling the highest quality of whiskey that is enjoyed all over the world.”
“We are in precarious times, as the Minister knows, and there is incredible uncertainty and uneasiness for anyone involved in business in this country. The new trade policy by the US has shaken the world and we need to adjust and adapt to this ever-changing landscape in which we are finding ourselves living. As we all have articulated today, as a country, we have enjoyed decades where global trade has increased, new markets have opened up and supply chains are being ever-more diverse and complex. Ireland is an example of how a globally interlinked economy can drive up growth for the betterment of us all. Unfortunately, with the US tariffs now in place we will absolutely suffer. I am hugely concerned for our exporting business. A 20% blanket tariff on most goods will have a huge effect on Irish investment and on the wider economy.”
“This is a crucial issue, particularly in County Louth where we have a large number of people being denied planning permission for their future homes.”
“I want to raise the issue of rural housing. In County Louth I am dealing with an incredible number of young couples struggling to get planning permission for their homes. Often I find they are almost demonised for asking and having the audacity to want to build on their own land and create a future for themselves in their own communities. Couples who grow up in an area expect to be able to send their children to primary schools and secondary schools in the area. Quite often we see they are not allowed to do so and are asked to move to places to which they have no connection. The Taoiseach has made commitments on this. We cannot allow the future of so many young couples to be halted. I know of families living in caravans while they wait for planning permission.”
“What about setting up an Oireachtas committee on youth affairs to look at youth mental health, youth poverty, the youth sector, youth services and the capital programmes that could be set up to empower young people to ensure they do not fall into mental health difficulties but take the right path because if we do not look after our young, we will not look after our future?”
“The work of this programme on child poverty is hugely important for the future of the country. When looking at childhood poverty, the State could look at its causes, namely, single parent households, households where nobody is in employment and intergenerational poverty. Often our social protection system puts constraints and restraints on single parent families preventing these parents from going out to work and leaving them in that poverty trap. The State spends over €4.5 billion dealing with the consequences of poverty when money could be spent on targeting and eliminating poverty.”
“At the minute, we have a two-tier compensation scheme for sheep farmers. Some farmers took a legal case and other farmers trusted in the State and believed their circumstances would be reviewed after the legal case. They did so in good faith. Owing to the considerable co-operation, we owe it to the affected farmers on the Cooley peninsula to upgrade their compensation package in line with that available to other farmers.”
“I have spoken to the Minister about this and really hope we can engage with the farming organisations and farmers on this. At the minute, we have a two-tier payment system for a 2001 scheme.”
“I thank the Minister. It is good to hear that we have protocols at ports. The Minister alluded to North–South co-operation at ports like Larne. As we know, foot and mouth disease came in across the Border on the last occasion. There had been an outbreak in Meigh, south Armagh. It is very important, therefore that we have the protocols. There was considerable co-operation back in 2001 from the families and farms of the Cooley peninsula. We worked very hard to make sure we saved the rest of the country from the foot and mouth outbreak. I do not believe there would be the same co-operation today if the disease were back in the Cooley Mountains, especially because some sheep farmers on the Cooley peninsula have still not received the same amount of money as other farmers received or were entitled to based on the value of their flocks.”
“I ask this question on foot and mouth disease because my community, neighbours and family farm were devastated in 2001 when all our animals had to be culled because of the disease. In light of foot and mouth disease being detected all across Europe, including in Slovakia, Germany and Hungary, I would like to know how ready this country will be if there is an outbreak. What are we doing to stop foot and mouth disease, and also bluetongue disease, from coming to this country?”
“I thank the Acting Chair for his consideration this morning. Rural roads in County Louth could not have enough money from the perspective of walkers, tourism and agriculture. My question relates to special circumstances, such as if there was an extreme weather event, for example. In the previous two years LIS funding was awarded to a particular road when it was damaged and decimated in an extreme weather event. In those circumstances, would the Department look fondly on them and give them money to make sure the road was brought up to a better standard?”
“I thank the Minister for his continuing support on this matter. I look forward to his coming to Dundalk again very soon and visiting DkIT. It was not about finding a fit with another institute of technology; it was about finding the right fit. Maynooth University is the right fit. The academic strengths of the two institutions complement each other. It is a win-win for both.”
“I absolutely acknowledge the huge investment the Government has provided to the HEA for DkIT. It is a fantastic and hugely important institution. As this is a new departure from what the HEA legislation initially set out, namely, ITs collaborating together, I want to make sure there are no barriers to progress. When the ducks are being put in a row, if regulatory or legal change is needed to ensure the college's status for the future and in order that there will be no blockage from a legal or policy point of view that would prevent DkIT and Maynooth University from collaborating on university status for the former, that change must be made.”
“My question concerns Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, which is of huge importance for the entire north-east region, educationally, economically and socially. I am hugely ambitious for the institution. It is the only IT that is left without university status. Last June, DkIT and Maynooth University signed a letter of intent confirming there will be a joint strategic engagement on future collaborations over the coming years. This is a hugely significant and exciting departure for both education bodies. What is the Department doing to support it?”
“These are economically turbulent times globally and with a potential trade war looming, businesses are very unsure about their futures and their survival over the next couple of years or even months. I ask for an update on the commitments in the programme for Government to address the regulatory and cost burdens for SMEs. What is the status of the small business unit in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment? From my engagement with businesses in Louth through the Dundalk and Drogheda chambers of commerce, I know that this is of utmost concern and it is what I am asked about most often. Considering that many of our SMEs are involved in export, what supports are being considered to assist them in a potential trade war?”
“I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge the work done in the past Dáil regarding the banning of dogs. I also thank him for acknowledging the Bill I introduced in the Seanad. I believe it is a good template for what we can do and work off. I hope the Department of agriculture can take over this entire brief and for it not to be across the three Departments as it is at present. We need awareness and accountability with penalties. We need resourcing of dog wardens and to give them more powers. Most of all, we must ensure the welfare of both the animal, that is, the dog and the people it attacks is protected. It is not the dog's fault it runs after, scares, frightens, plays chase or attacks and eats a sheep. It is playing a game and acting on its basic instincts.”
“It was important, and showed that even the most placid dog can become a ruthless killer. We need to have dogs DNA tested when they are getting microchipped. A microchip needs to be connected to a licence to ensure we have a greater chance of checking dogs.”
“A vet had to be on hand to perform C-sections and breech births occurred due to wombs being twisted. Nine of their lambs died before they were born. This is all down to the worry inflicted on the poor wee animals during the chase. Farmers have had enough. Niamh Monahan conducted a survey which asked people about their experiences, to which 558 farmers replied. Of those, 409 had experienced dog attacks, including 88% of hill farmers and 80% of lowland farmers. They are asking for greater awareness for dog owners and the damage their pets can do. I ask the Minister of State to show the Bonzo advertisement on our screens again. It was really effective and most of us of a certain age will remember it. Just because it is old does not mean it is not effective.”
“Quite often, they have the audacity to get aggressive when confronted about these issues. I find it absolutely shocking that people continuously do this. They do it because there are very few consequences. There are not enough dog wardens, and they do not have enough resources or powers. This has to change. Earlier today, I spoke to Niamh and Eamonn Monahan, from Inniskeen, County Monaghan, who have had enough. After four serious dog attacks over the past five years, they have been incredibly vocal in local and national media about this issue. The photos of what the dogs did to their sheep are so graphic that one would genuinely think a bear had attacked them. They are absolutely horrific. Even the sheep that survived had complications when giving birth.”
“They cannot mentally or financially take the hit of witnessing animals being tortured to death, brutally attacked and ripped to shreds. We have to take proactive measures to protect our sheep and prevent these incidents from occurring over and over again. There is a commitment in the programme for Government in this regard. We have to implement stricter dog control laws. Those laws could help farmers by ensuring that they have the right to ban dogs from their land and commonage. In the Cooley Mountains in County Louth, farmers are tortured and run ragged trying to protect their sheep. Dog owners are not adhering to signage and do not care about farmers asking for no dogs in the mountains. They do not care about animal welfare. They are selfishly bringing dogs into areas with sheep and do not care about the damage they do.”
“All-inclusive dog control legislation will encourage responsible ownership practices, such as training, socialisation and the proper containment of dogs. It would make sure that dogs are traceable with microchipping, licensing, DNA databases and educating dog owners about their responsibilities and the potential consequences for irresponsible behaviour. We have a responsibility in the House to promote and facilitate animal welfare. By preventing dog attacks on sheep, we will ensure the safety of our livestock. The devastating effects of these attacks not only results in economic losses for farmers, but also the immense consequences for those who witness such an attack. I have listened to farmers who have stopped sheep farming altogether because they cannot take it any more.”
“I want to address an important issue which affects communities across the countryside, namely, the need for robust dog control legislation. It is required for many reasons, including protecting our livestock. Robust dog control legislation can protect our vulnerable livestock, such as sheep, from being attacked and killed by dogs. These attacks not only result in financial losses for farmers, but also cause immense suffering for animals. Such legislation would ensure public safety. Implementing dog control laws would help to prevent dogs attacking people, which can lead to severe injuries, and even fatalities, by holding dog owners accountable for the behaviour of their pets. It would also promote responsible dog ownership.”
“I would like to ask about a slightly different matter, namely, childcare provision. There are huge difficulties in the area, as the Taoiseach knows, and services are struggling with staff attrition, burn-out, compliance and regulations, while dealing with the impact of the many pay freezes and the introduction of the new childcare programme that may reduce their capacity to serve children in the long run. Services are at risk of losing their reputations. They are cutting costs and staff and I often find when I deal with childcare services that they are afraid it is to the detriment of what they are there to do, which is to look after children to the best of their ability and make sure those children are educated, cared for and have a good time in childcare.”
“Right across the disability sector, there are huge problems. Will the Taoiseach's committee look at a full implementation of the laws in this country under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and also under our public sector duty? I do not know of even one court case taken since the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, was established in 2015 that relates to the public sector duty. When we are looking at reforming the system and making better the lives of people with disabilities, we should look at actually implementing the laws we currently have. Will the committee also look at eliminating the means test for carers faster than is envisaged in the programme for Government? It should also consider the fact the system is so rigid that it is making people more disabled.”
“Louth services have a vacancy rate of about 50%, with more than 32 of the positions involved across the north and south of the county. The torture and heartache families are put through is just agonising. Children with disabilities are suffering while waiting to access therapies and assessments of need. This not only affects their present, it also has lifetime consequences. We cannot fail here. We must address this issue head on. These children deserve equal opportunities. They deserve to thrive and they deserve to reach their full potential like every other child. Many speakers referred to how services are being stretched and how many children are waiting for assessments of need. Consider what we have achieved over the past year, with more than 14,000 children waiting and 2,400 on waiting lists.”
“There is a cruelty to it. Often, because people have a disability they are curtailed by our State and put into a poverty cycle of health inequality. It often feels as if the State does not want people with disabilities to have ambition. I know this not to be true, but it is the effect of many of our State policies. There are many issues I will take up with the Minister of State's ministerial colleagues over the next four years. With regard to her brief, however, I make no qualms about saying that things are not good with disability services at present. Like many other counties, Louth has huge waiting lists. More than 600 children are on the list for assessments of need. That is not to mention the waiting list for those who had assessments and who are not receiving any therapies.”