I thank the Labour Party for tabling this motion. I am joined by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. Last September, I spoke in the House about my vision for the provision of disability services for people of all ages in the coming years. My vision is ambitious and I make no apology for that. People with special needs deserve nothing less than the best services that the State can provide. This discussion focuses on a number of strands, including health, equality, education and inclusion. It shows that every person in so…

I thank the Deputies for submitting this Topical Issue, which I am responding to on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and giving me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on waiting lists in Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital. Regarding paediatric orthopaedic waiting times, there has been an increased investment in paediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis services in recent years, which has improved access to surgery and outpatient appointments. In 2018, Children's Health Ireland, CHI, was…

It is a very good case. Yesterday I met the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to discuss children and waiting lists. Every week, I sit beside Deputy Smith, because that is where my normal seat in the House is. Every week I discuss with him access to children's rheumatoid services. I am acutely aware of the conversations we have had. Every evening I see posts on Twitter about children who cannot access orthopaedic services. I talk specifically about Down's syndrome when I have this conversation. I will take on board the co…

I feel and understand the heartache, worry and disgust raised by the "RTÉ Investigates" programme on Thursday last. As any parent knows, we would go to any lengths to protect our child's rights. That is why it was like a kick in the stomach to learn that a Government body appears to be impeding this process of parents fighting for their children. I was alarmed and outraged, as so many Deputies were. Since Thursday's broadcast, families have been left to question whether they have been impacted. Work is continuing i…

I thank the Deputies for the questions they have posed to me. Deputy Cullinane talked about issues of morality, trust, ethics and culture. That is a conversation that needs to be had out in the open. I do not deny that one bit. The word I keep coming back to is "transparency". That is what everyone is looking for, a conversation in respect of transparency. Deputy Ó Laoghaire is right; I am very sympathetic. I have a clear knowledge of this. There is an opportunity to reset how things have gone on but there is also …

The Deputy has raised many issues on which I do not disagree with her. The most important matter here is the breakdown of trust. Unfortunately, that is what the "RTÉ Investigates" programme showed. It showed that there has been a breach of that trust and families need to be communicated with clearly and openly so that we can rebuild same. I am putting myself into that role and I will seek out the full and comprehensive review that is required in the Department so we can build that trust between the various parties …

I thank the Deputy for his comments. As Minister of State in the Department of Health and in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I have explained the legal piece in this. While that is the law, I do not accept the transparency piece, as I outlined earlier. I hear what the Deputy is saying about the families. We need to reassure them and build trust. That is the purpose of this review. When it is done, it will be made available and we will be transparent so that we can explain th…

In the few seconds left to me, I will respond to the Deputy's final question on whether the families can be contacted. I have requested that this should be done and it is going to happen. They will be contacted and a liaison person will be put in place. For anybody among the wider public who has a concern, there will be an email facility put in place to facilitate contact with the Department.

I thank the Deputy for his very direct questions. In regard to the expert review, my understanding is that barristers were brought in over the weekend and are still working through all of the files in order to present us with the information that is needed. The Deputy asked a very clear question about the difference between ethical and lawful. The whole thrust of my opening statement was that what was done might have been lawful but we need to consider whether it was ethical and moral and whether the culture needs …

I am joined by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, in which Department I am also Minister of State. I would like people to understand that what I am tasked with doing as we move forward is to take disability provision out of the Department of Health and apply to it a more person-centred and rights-based approach under the remit of the new Department. I hope that will set us on course for the cultural shift, ethical change and person-based approach that I, and all…

I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for his comments and questions. Perhaps I should have started by apologising but I will certainly do so in my concluding remarks. The Deputy asked some very direct questions. For example, he asked how many live cases there are. There are four dozen live cases. This is a clear answer. My concluding statement sets out a list of questions that I have asked, no more than the Deputy has, and I have not received answers to all of them. That is not to say they have not been asked. I am awaiting …

As I said earlier, I want to apologise to the families who watched the "RTÉ Investigates" programme last week for any upset that was caused, and for any questions I could not answer today. It is my ambition to get those answers and to put them into the public domain because I believe that is how we will build trust and ensure there is transparency. I will start there. I thank the Deputies who made contributions to the debate today. I agree that upholding the rights of the must vulnerable members of society is of th…

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I intend to address two issues that are referred to in the motion, namely, day services and respite provision. I will also speak about the "RTÉ Investigates" programme and address some of the points raised by Deputy Connolly. As a Member of this House, I have spoken with numerous carers and, more recently, I have done so as Minister of State with responsibility for disability services. Many of them have told me about the struggles they face in looking after th…

I feel and understand the heartache, worry and disgust that has been raised by the "RTÉ Investigates" programme last Thursday. As any parent knows, we would go to any lengths to protect our children's rights. That is why it was like a kick in the stomach to learn that a Government body appeared to be impeding this process of parents fighting for their children. I was alarmed and outraged, as so many Members were. Since Thursday's broadcast, families have been left to question whether they have been impacted. Work i…

I want to correct something. In my opening statement, I said I had been informed by the Secretary General this morning that it was the Department's intention to publish the senior counsel's report. It is receiving legal advice on it at present. I want to clear that matter.

I thank everybody who took the time to contribute to the debate. Like the Leas-Chathaoirleach, I thank Senators Ruane and Carrigy for sharing their personal information, and their children for allowing it to be shared. I am speaking off script and am giving my opinion. Sometimes people who work in Departments have to detach themselves and ask what the human side is, such as why there was a great deal of outrage about what was revealed on Thursday night last. I stand on the two Senators' side, as both a person and a…

I want to start by acknowledging the extraordinary efforts that have been made and are continuing to be made by people the length and breadth of the country during this extremely challenging time. I appreciate that so many aspects of normal life have been altered since the emergence of Covid-19 over one year ago. As Minister of State with responsibility for disability, I have seen how these challenges have taken a huge toll on our people, especially on the most vulnerable members of society. However, I have also se…

Senator Seery Kearney raised that issue as well. It is important that, when we reopen after Easter, the education services that we provide to children be the priority, be they in special schools or classes. Students from first year to third year have not returned to school yet. Neither have transition year students – I cannot leave them out. These students need that social engagement. I have two children in my house. One has gone back to school and the other has not. The one who has gone back is blossoming and lovi…

The national vaccination programme is unprecedented in its scale and will grow to become the largest immunisation programme in the history of the State. It is less than three months since the first vaccination dose was administrated in Ireland. Already more than 680,000 people have received a first dose with more than 184,000 of our most vulnerable and at-risk, including some of those with a disability, now fully vaccinated against the disease receiving both a first and a second dose. Ireland continues to perform a…

I thank the Deputy for the questions. A total of 1,200 people aged over 65 have been vaccinated. The 4,000 are residents of congregated settings or community homes who were vaccinated up to 13 March. We then paused it because of the issues with AstraZeneca. It has now recommenced and we have approximately 12,000 to do.