I bring to the Tánaiste's attention a very tragic case in County Clare, that of Jennifer Hynes, 42 years of age, in permanent residency in Mowlam nursing home in Ennis. Jennifer suffers from cerebral palsy, has daily seizures and is one of many young people in Irish nursing homes. The programme for Government promises to eliminate this practice and to get these people into more suitable permanent accommodation where their needs can be met. This is a tragic case. Jennifer is a fish out of water. It is a perfect nursing home but it is not perfect for her needs. I ask the Government to look at expediting these cases. They are tragic. We need to move them forward.

I wish to raise the same issue. I was also contacted by Jennifer Hynes. She is only 42 years of age and is now stuck in a nursing home. She has had her local authority housing removed from her. Page 78 of the programme for Government states that the Government will "eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes". I ask the Tánaiste to ensure this is done urgently in my constituency of Clare. Jennifer is in a bad situation and cannot even engage in group activities because of her disabilities. This needs to stop.

This is on the disabilities sector in the programme for Government, which we were talking about and is on page 90. I will speak on the somewhat connected issue of suspension of day care and respite services for people with intellectual disabilities due to Covid-19. I have been contacted, as have many of my colleagues, by many parents who are left dealing with children and sometimes adults with intellectual disabilities at home with little or no support. Will the Tánaiste address the issue of when the day care and respite centres will reopen? Parents are reporting instances of regression, violence, being withdrawn or loneliness and it is a matter of urgency at this stage.

I thank the Deputies for raising the important issue of younger people in nursing homes. There are also younger people staying in hospitals for a prolonged period, months or years in some cases, because there is nowhere for them to go other than a nursing home, which is inappropriate. This is an issue we will talk about a good deal in the next couple of months. The Ombudsman is doing a report on the matter as we speak and that is why a specific commitment is included in the programme for Government.

I am sorry to hear about Jennifer's situation. I will not comment on an individual case without having information on it but I know there are thousands of younger people in Ireland who are living in nursing homes with older people. While I am sure they get good care, it is not right and I have seen this. One goes into a nursing home where all the activities are designed for older people and to see a young person stuck there with them is heartbreaking. I know from my experience as a doctor a long time ago that we often have younger people in a single room in a hospital or in a hospital bed for months because there is nowhere else for them to go. That is why we have a specific commitment to deal with this in the programme for Government.

It may need a mix of solutions, including, obviously, much enhanced home care and adaptions to a home in order that people can return home and in some cases it may mean specific homes for younger people. The problem will not be solved quickly but it is on our agenda. I promise the Deputies that.