Martin Daly highlights crisis in disability services and waiting lists
Martin Daly spoke about failings in disability services, citing a heartbreaking interview by Raddy Peat and Dan Lambert about their non-verbal autistic daughter and the long waits for assessment and intervention. He criticised prolonged waiting lists, welcomed commitments in the programme for government, and urged funding be prioritised for the most vulnerable.
The speaker opened by referencing a recent interview on the Oliver Callan show by Raddy Peat and Dan Lambert, who described the difficulty of securing early diagnosis and intervention for their non-verbal autistic daughter. As a GP, he said their story reflects the reality for many parents and highlighted that those with the least resources suffer the most.
He detailed specific delays cited in the interview, including an 18-month wait for an assessment in 2023 followed by placement on a five-year waiting list for intervention. He warned that everyday loss to early intervention is an irretrievable cost and described care as a constant battle to obtain services that should be a right.
The speech recounted the example of an ageing mother who cared for her son with severe intellectual disability for 48 years and sought residential care at age 80. After repeated requests she was reportedly told arrangements would be sorted when she was gone; when she died suddenly, long-term care for her son was arranged within 10 days, a sequence the speaker said should not have been the outcome of a lifetime of struggle.
He welcomed the programme for government's renewed focus on disability, including commitment to the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a national disability strategy with a vision for 2020 and the establishment of a disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. Noting an existing £6.5 billion spend, he urged that funding be directed to the most vulnerable, said Ireland has lagged behind EU counterparts on support, and appealed to the minister and the Taoiseach to move forward proactively, closing with a quotation from Francis of Assisi and the words Go ra ma ha agat.
Personal testimonies and media reference
The speaker opened by referencing a recent interview on the Oliver Callan show by Raddy Peat and Dan Lambert, who described the difficulty of securing early diagnosis and intervention for their non-verbal autistic daughter. As a GP, he said their story reflects the reality for many parents and highlighted that those with the least resources suffer the most.
Waiting times and everyday costs
He detailed specific delays cited in the interview, including an 18-month wait for an assessment in 2023 followed by placement on a five-year waiting list for intervention. He warned that everyday loss to early intervention is an irretrievable cost and described care as a constant battle to obtain services that should be a right.
Case study of long-term family carers
The speech recounted the example of an ageing mother who cared for her son with severe intellectual disability for 48 years and sought residential care at age 80. After repeated requests she was reportedly told arrangements would be sorted when she was gone; when she died suddenly, long-term care for her son was arranged within 10 days, a sequence the speaker said should not have been the outcome of a lifetime of struggle.
Policy endorsements, funding and ministerial appeal
He welcomed the programme for government's renewed focus on disability, including commitment to the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a national disability strategy with a vision for 2020 and the establishment of a disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. Noting an existing £6.5 billion spend, he urged that funding be directed to the most vulnerable, said Ireland has lagged behind EU counterparts on support, and appealed to the minister and the Taoiseach to move forward proactively, closing with a quotation from Francis of Assisi and the words Go ra ma ha agat.
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Transcript
I want to wish Minister Naughton and Minister Moynihan well in their new roles. The opportunity to make this statement is timely. I moved to refer to the heartbreaking interview of Raddy Peat and Dan Lambert about their daughter who had non-verbal autism on the Oliver Callan show last Friday. They eloquently articulated the horrendous difficulty parents and their children with special needs face in seeking early diagnosis and intervention. As a GP, their story is the reality for many parents. Care is a constant battle to obtain services that should be a right. Everyday loss to early intervention is an irretrievable cost. Those with the least resources suffer the most. Raddy and Dan waited 18 months for an assessment in 2023, only to be placed on a five-year waiting list for intervention. They reflected the frustration and anger that thousands of parents feel. We have ageing parents who have dedicated their lives to caring for their children with special needs. Yet they are unable to plan for their children's future. There is minimal planning available. I recall a mother who cared for her son with severe intellectual disability for 48 years. At 80 years of age she sought residential care for her son. After years of request she was told it would be sorted out when she was gone. When she died suddenly from complications following a hip fracture, his long-term care was arranged within 10 days. A lifetime of struggle should not have ended that way. Disabilities can take on diverse forms, some easily recognisable whilst others remain hidden from view. Each person's journey is distinct and deserves to be understood on its own terms. I welcome the programme for government's renewed focus on disability, committing to the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and prioritising a national disability strategy with a vision for 2020. I also welcome the establishment of the disability unit in the Department of the Taoiseach, which will give weight and focus to delivery. The strategy must be underwritten by principles of equality, accessibility, the right to live independently, the right to education, adequate healthcare, employment and the right to participate in daily life. I welcome the recognition of carers in the programme for government. In the context of an existing £6.5 billion spend, we must ensure that funding is directed to the most vulnerable. If reform is required, we should embrace it. Ireland has lagged behind your EU counterparts in supporting people with disabilities. We must move forward proactively. Minister I know your personal commitment and indeed the Taoiseach's commitment to this issue. To quote Francis of Assisi, start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Go ra ma ha agat.