Disability Issues
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-28
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Tom Clonan (IND), University of Dublin

I thank the Minister of State for actually addressing me and addressing the question as opposed to reading out some script written by a public servant, which generally fails to address the underlying issue.
I hear what the Minister of State says. It is an historical arrangement and an agreement that goes back 25 years, but asserting that does not make it the right thing to do. This should be client focused and person focused, and should not preserve an administrative system that is simply anachronistic. I cannot see any reason it would benefit the State, the person or the service by transferring this money by way of an anomalous requirement that was set out 23 years ago. That we have just always done it this way is not a compelling argument for keeping it that way. I am mindful that they have their own local representatives down there. There are Senators in this Chamber who live in that constituency. They are so much in extremis and in such difficulty that they have reached out to me to raise this issue. I have seen the work they do. It is not a big ask. It will not cost the State anything. In fact, it will save the State money because they will not have to do this bureaucratic administrative process which is completely unnecessary and is having a negative impact on the very people who might benefit from these courses. I appreciate the Minister of State's sincerity.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-28