97. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure that disability supports adequately meet the needs of people with disabilities, including access to services and timely assessments, and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3476/26]

Sentiment score: 0.21

It comes as no surprise that I will be raising the north side of Dublin again. Regarding the care and work done for people with disabilities and the elderly in north Dublin, the teams are amazing but St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Francis Hospice, Beaumont and St. Michael's House need supports, particularly for the elderly and people with disabilities. Will the Minister give an update on what the Department is doing to support these great teams and to add to care in the north side? The north side has been neglected for too long.

Sentiment score: 0.27

Aontaím leis an Aire agus táim an-bhuíoch den airgead atá ar fáil do dhaoine le míchumas. An pointe atá á dhéanamh agam ar son na ndaoine i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh is that the families are struggling and I again call for more adequate funding for the facilities in the institutions I mentioned. I also want to bring the Minister's attention to the case of Seán Horan, a resident in St. Michael's House in Ballymun. I would really welcome the engagement with the Department about it but the system needs to be changed. According to Seán's mother, he entered mainstream school and is in fifth year but is now being removed from St. Michael's House. His is mother abided by all the rules but we are not providing adequate funding for the north side. Seán's mother is worried and he does not know where he is going to go next year. If schools such as St. Michael's House were not classed as junior cycle, it would enable Seán to continue to stay in the school and get support he needs. I would welcome any attention towards the case of Seán Horan.

Sentiment score: 0.08

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Táim fíorbhuíoch as an airgead sin. My predecessor Finian McGrath, a former Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, would also be very proud and I spoke to him again this morning. One of my staff in the Oireachtas has a disability. I have raised this issue in this House previously. We, as policymakers, should have people with disabilities as close to us as possible, but we cannot avail of the wage subsidy scheme. My parliamentary assistant is working as hard as he can but he needs additional support. If we can encourage the Government to bring the wage subsidy scheme into the Oireachtas, we would have people with disabilities closer to people making the policies about their lives. I have raised it with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, as well. He is looking into it and I would love some pressure from the Minister, Deputy Foley, as well. Táim fíorbhuíoch as an airgead sin. Táim ag iarraidh St. Michael's House, St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Francis Hospice and Beaumont Hospital i mBaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh a lua arís. These institutions and their hard-working men and women need more financial support. I welcome the money the Minister has, but I would love that money to go towards these northside institutions. The staff are hard-working and they can deliver the supports that are needed on the ground. I thank the Minister for saying that she will investigate Seán Horan's case as his mother feels that she was penalised for trying mainstream education. The only way the application was set up was for failure because the State did not provide additional space for the school.

Sentiment score: 0.17