I thank the Social Democrats for affording us the opportunity to speak on this important issue. It is one I have raised several times with the Minister of State. I know she is, as I am, committed to delivering homes for adults with intellectual disabilities in their own communities. I thank her for coming to Balbriggan to meet the amazing Remember Us, which is a parent-led organisation that supports not only children and adults with intellectual disabilities but also their families. It has built a wonderful community. I have had the privilege of getting to know this community. Its members have shared their hopes and fears, and we have shared tears. The Minister of State has heard this already here today, but the question we all want answered is what will happen to people’s sons and daughters when they die. We have to have a plan, we have to deliver and we have to do more than just listen. We all understand the challenges and the demands, but we need to work together across Government and the local authorities and with the HSE, and we really have to deliver for these families. The fears and uncertainty are too much for us all to bear, to be honest with the Minister of State. As the Minister of State knows, Remember Us has proposed a pilot scheme, homes for us, which proposes a community-based model that allows adults with disabilities to live independently while remaining connected to their communities and where they have grown up. I know active work is ongoing with the local authority and the HSE on this project. I would really like to see us move forward with a pilot project on this proposal. I also acknowledge the good work of Prosper Fingal in this space, which also provides residential homes for adults with intellectual disabilities. We owe it to these families to move from discussing these proposals to delivering and having clear plans in place.

Sentiment score: 0.29