Denis Naughten Demands Reopening of Daycare Services for Vulnerable
Denis Naughten challenged the minister over the continued closure of daycare and support services for vulnerable people despite phased reopenings. He pressed for clear public health advice and government direction to restore daycare, disability training centres and day services for older people.
Reopening status
Denis Naughten noted that special schools reopened last February and that public transport services will be increased to 75% from the 19th of July. He said these steps contrast with the ongoing closures affecting other services for vulnerable groups.
Daycare and disability training capacity
He highlighted that disability training centres are operating at as little as 20% capacity and that daycare services remain largely closed. Naughten asked why the doors of these vital services to the most vulnerable in society are still shut.
Impact on older people and families
Naughten pointed out that older people have had no day service whatsoever since March of 2020, stressing the consequences for individuals' health and for their families. He warned of the wider knock-on consequences from prolonged unavailability of day services.
Minister's response and commitment
In reply, the minister committed that the next phase of the reopening has to include the daycare services and expressed confidence they will be restored if the step-by-step, cautious approach continues to succeed. The minister described those services as critical for health and family wellbeing.
Call for public health guidance
Naughten urged that clear public health advice and government direction are still required to enable the restoration of capacity in daycare and disability training settings. He pushed for action to ensure fully vaccinated people and those dependent on day services can regain access.
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Minister, special schools reopened last February and public transport services will be increased to 75% from the 19th of July, but people who are fully vaccinated, like those in disability training centres, where there is as little as 20% capacity being provided at present, or older people who have no day service whatsoever since March of 2020, are still waiting on the public health advice and government direction in this area. So why, Minister, are the doors of these vital services to the most vulnerable in society still closed? Deputy Nocturne, I absolutely commit that the next phase in the reopening has to include the daycare services, absolutely critical, and if we can be successful as we're doing, as we have been in our step-by-step, cautious but considered kind of approach, I have every confidence that they will, we will see those services restored. They're critical for the health, not just of the individuals, but also their family and all the other knock-on consequences of not having them available at the present time.
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