Cara’s protest at Dáil
Independent Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has sharply criticised the Government and the HSE over what he described as the “systematic, unlawful and inhumane failure” to provide timely assessments of need for children with disabilities.
His comments came during a Dáil debate which followed the presence of young disability rights campaigner Cara Darmody, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, and her father in the public gallery.
“We spent five hours tonight in this House debating the State’s failure to provide assessments of need, while Cara Darmody looked on from the gallery - a 13-year-old girl doing so much to hold the Government account,” Deputy McGrath stated.
“Every hour the HSE delays these assessments, it is breaking the law. Yet there is no accountability, no urgency, and no justice for these children and their families.” Deputy McGrath linked the HSE’s failure on disability services to broader issues of waste and mismanagement, citing inflated administrative costs and an expanding bureaucracy that, he argued, does little to deliver frontline care.
“We now have a €24 billion health budget, and yet children are being denied basic supports guaranteed by law. What kind of Republic allows this to continue? What kind of system forces parents to take legal action just to get a diagnosis for their child?”
Referencing the Disability Services situation locally, Deputy McGrath highlighted that there are 233 children and young people currently awaiting an Autism Assessment in South Tipperary while the wait time for assessment for a new referral is currently 48 months.
Deputy McGrath joined Cara Darmody during her 50-hour protest outside Leinster House to highlight the failures of the HSE in providing adequate Disability Services.
“Cara has embarrassed this State into paying attention. But we need more than attention - we need action.”
Deputy McGrath repeated his call for the immediate clearance of the backlog in assessments of need, proper resourcing of disability teams in every county, and real accountability for the HSE’s ongoing breaches of the Disability Act.
“The law is clear. The rights of these children are clear. The failure is total. The excuses have run out.”
The Independent TD pledged to continue raising the issue at every level until families across Tipperary and Ireland receive the timely, lawful and compassionate support they are entitled to.