Tipperary teenager is first speaker to address new Oireachtas Disability Committee

Tipperary Teenager Cara Darmody addressed the new Oireachtas Disability Committee at Leinster House this morning. 

The young activist from Ardfinnan was the first speaker invited to address the new Oireachtas committee since the formation of this current government. 

Cara was invited to speak to the committee by the Disability Matters Committee chairman Maurice Quinlivan TD. 

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The disability rights campaigner will be campaigning for more to be done to help reduce the amount of time children spend on assessments of needs waiting lists in the country.

Addressing the committee this morning Cara started by saying "I’m here today to call out the blatant Assessments of Needs law-breaking by the Taoiseach and the Government.

"Three different Taoisigh have made promises to me to fix this issue, and all have dramatically failed" Cara said.

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Cara went on to say that in 93% of cases, children are assessed outside the six-month timeframe.

"So let’s call a spade a spade – the law is being systematically smashed by the Government."

Cara warned the committee that any change to the law, increasing the six-month assessment limit timeframe, will "cause further permanent damage to children."

Cara finished her speech by saying "My message to the Taoiseach today is very simple – immediately declare this
as a national emergency, set up a task force to physically knock on every private psychologist and therapist’s door in the Country with an emergency request for help, and dramatically finance ‘Cara’s Fund.’

"And finally…. Taoiseach – Please stop breaking the law!"