Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Ceannaire is very kind and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Brambles is a day and respite care service operated by St. Catherine's Association in Newcastle, County Wicklow. It is a service that is available for parents and carers of children and young adults with intellectual disabilities. I have to declare a conflict of interest here. My nephew, who has Down's syndrome, gets much needed daily respite in the centre. Unfortunately, it has had to close its respite centre to all parents and carers because another adult has gone into crisis. I do not know the full details of that case, but I rather suspect, as can often happen, elderly parents have passed away and suddenly there is an adult who has no service, goes into crisis and has been placed by the HSE in this care facility which now means that none of the children can avail of the respite.

For parents - I think of my nephew's case - this is an impossible situation. Very often both parents, as in this case, are trying to go out to work. Senator Ardagh raised a similar matter the other day. I wanted to bring it to the attention of the House. The parents are asking for any possible intervention, but I think it demands a broader debate about the planning of such services for disabled citizens and carers. It should not be happening like this where one person's crisis, which is heartbreaking, leads to such chaos in other people's lives. They are already vulnerable to begin with.

I thank the Ceannaire and the Leas-Chathaoirleach for their flexibility in allowing me to speak on the matter.