Let us stop pretending that we do not understand the problem. The Government has had evidence for decades now, but what has changed for people with disabilities? The answer is very little, and the proof of the failure in this regard lies in the figures. Disabled people are far more likely to be living in poverty, not slightly more but multiple times more. We are talking about poverty rates of over 30% in some cases when disability costs are taken into account. We are talking about consistent poverty rates four times the national average. We are talking about people spending over half their income, and in some cases, up to 93%, just on the cost of disability. After all of that, there is no proper system in place to address it. That is not a gap; it is a failure. Failure number one is delay. Instead of acting on the evidence, the Government has launched yet another consultation process. People do not need to be consulted again about whether they are struggling. They are telling the Government that they are. Failure number two was cutting supports in budget 2026. The Government removed cost-of-living payments which are worth around €1,400 a year to disabled people. While costs remain constant and unavoidable, supports are taken away. That is not reform; it is regression. Failure number three is relying on once-off measures. Disabled people are saying clearly that this is not a temporary crisis. There is permanent pressure from a cost-of-living perspective, so why is the Government still treating it like a once-off emergency? A once-off payment might help for a week, but it does not fix a lifelong cost. It is the Government's whole approach to people with disabilities that I would like to talk about. It is not just this issue alone. The Government has been talking about the means test for a long time, but it is still means testing carers. These are people who are giving their whole lives over to minding loved ones in their homes. Another matter, which I raised earlier today and which affects many people with disabilities is the summer programme or the July provision for children with special needs. For this year's programme, schools were given just one week's notice. Usually, they are given three to four months notice in order that they can be prepared and get their applications for funding in, which they will hopefully get. This year, they were only given one week to apply, which was extremely late on the part of the Department. As a result, many schools missed the deadline through no fault their own. Earlier, I called for a debate on the matter of providing an extension in order to ensure that no child will be left out. I was at the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork the other night where about 500 people from the Before We Die group attended a meeting. People spoke about those with intellectual disabilities. Those at the meeting are extremely frustrated with the inability of successive Governments to understand the crisis people are in. Some 78% have no formal housing, which means that parents do not know where their children are going to go when they die. Some 48% of carers are over 60, 14% are aged over 70 and 2% are aged over 80. Some 92% of adults with an intellectual disability still rely on their parents. There is a major crisis out there, and these parents need to know what is going to happen. By God, as I say the other night, they have massive backing.

Sentiment score: -0.09