Tá mé chomh bródúil a bheith anseo i mo Theachta Dála ar son mhuintir Cheatharlach agus Chill Chainnigh. As this is my maiden speech in this historic Chamber, I sincerely thank the people of Carlow and Kilkenny who put their trust in me to represent them in the Thirty-fourth Dáil. I remember my late parents, Jo Jo and Kathy Roberts; my uncle, Martin; agus múinteoir den scoth, Eamon Whelan, who all had such a positive influence on me. I especially thank my husband, Dean, and my children, Alex, Lissie, and Pippa, and all my family, friends and supporters. Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall ar ár son go léir.

As a former carer, and the first ever special needs assistant, SNA, elected to Dáil Éireann, the Taoiseach can imagine that support for those who need it most is a top priority for me in my role as a Teachta Dála. I welcome the strong focus on disability in the programme for Government. When will the new disability unit in the Department of An Taoiseach be established and what will it do?

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta Callaghan. I congratulate her and her family and wish her the very best in her time in Dáil Éireann. In respect of the new disability unit, we have already had meetings and I have already identified to my officials that I want a disability unit which works with all Departments in respect of the broad issue of disability to make sure that, over the next while, both in the context of the next budget and specific issues such as education and access to therapies, we make quick, decisive moves to improve the situation for children and families in particular. That is the objective. It will take a whole-of-government approach, however, to co-ordinate across every single Department, from employment of people with disabilities to education, healthcare needs, access and transport, housing adaptation and much more.