In the Seanad today I raised the impact of Covid-19 on families with children, young people and adults with disabilities and urged additional funding so that full services can resume.

In the Seanad I told of the difficulties being experienced by disability services providers, including delays and significant constraints brought about by public health guidelines.

Many families are under pressure due to the Covid-19 pandemic and most particularly those families with vulnerable children, young adults and vulnerable adults.

From engagement with service providers and parents in Galway, I know that social distancing requirements and other health requirements are impacting on service provision for persons with a disability. Many parents are tired, frustrated and upset over the delays in the resumption of full services.

I further highlighted the impact of Covid-19 on respite services which he said are particularly important for parents of children or young people with a disability.

I appealed to the Leader of the Seanad, Regina Doherty to request that the newly-appointed Minister of State for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Anne Rabbitte TD come to the Seanad to address the provision of funding to allow for the full resumption of disability services.

D’ardaigh mé tionchar Covid-19 ar theaghlaigh le leanaí, daoine óga agus daoine fásta faoi mhíchumas agus mhol sé maoiniú breise ionas gur féidir le seirbhísí iomlána atosú.

D’inis mé don Seanad faoi na deacrachtaí a bhíonn ag soláthraithe seirbhísí míchumais, lena n-áirítear moilleanna agus srianta suntasacha a chruthaíonn treoirlínte sláinte poiblí.

Tá go leor teaghlaigh faoi bhrú mar gheall ar phaindéim Covid-19 agus go háirithe na teaghlaigh sin a bhfuil leanaí leochaileacha, daoine óga agus fásta leochaileacha acu.

Ó bheith i dteagmháil le soláthraithe seirbhíse agus le tuismitheoirí i nGaillimh, tá a fhios agam go bhfuil tionchar ag riachtanais scaradh sóisialta agus riachtanais sláinte eile ar sholáthar seirbhíse do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas. Tá go leor tuismitheoirí tuirseach, mífhoighneach agus trína chéile faoin moill ar atosú seirbhísí iomlána.

Chuir mé béim freisin ar thionchar Covid-19 ar sheirbhísí faoisimh a dúirt sé atá thar a bheith tábhachtach do thuismitheoirí leanaí nó daoine óga faoi mhíchumas.

D’iarr mé ar Ceannaire an tSeanaid, Regina Doherty iarraidh go dtiocfadh an tAire Stáit nua-cheaptha do Leanaí, Míchumas, Comhionannas agus Comhtháthú, Anne Rabbitte TD chuig an Seanad chun ceist maidir le maoiniú a chuir ar fáil chun atosú iomlán a cheadú do seirbhísí míchumais a phlé.