Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter, specifically the reduction of €1.08 million in the budget of the Brothers of Charity in Bawnmore in Limerick. This 4% cut has resulted in the decision by the Brothers of Charity at the Bawnmore centre to close in ten days' time the only respite facility it has for intellectually disabled adults in Limerick city. The closure will affect 63 families, many of whom are elderly or widowed carers of sons or daughters. They have reached crisis point as they face the loss of the only respite care facility available for loved ones. The closure, which has been caused by a shortage of funding to the Brothers of Charity in Limerick, is unacceptable and an absolute disgrace.

I anticipated that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, or the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Moloney, would come to the House to address this issue. The Brothers of Charity in Bawnmore do fantastic work but face a shortage of funding. A cut of €1.08 million or 4% in a budget is severe. It has forced the Brothers of Charity to reorganise services in Bawnmore with the result that one respite house will be closed affecting 63 individuals and their families, another three residential units in the city have been closed and a further residential unit in Bawnmore must be reorganised. They have also had to curtail canteen facilities for more than 200 people who use them daily.

If the Minister of State provides a general response, it will be unacceptable. Deputies are being forced to submit general questions on the Adjournment when the Government is well aware that we seek responses on specific issues. I want to know whether funding of the order of €150,000 to €200,000 will be restored to ensure respite services are not discontinued on 14 June. Will the Minister of State also confirm that the funding of €1.08 million will be restored?

The Government attacks the most vulnerable, a category which includes the disabled. The parents and siblings of disabled people are so tired from caring for their disabled sons and daughters and brothers and sisters that they do not have the energy to respond to Government cuts such as these. Service providers such as the Brothers of Charity in Bawnmore are doing fantastic work but are being curtailed by a lack of funding. The moratorium on recruitment is not being applied in a consistent manner, specifically in respect of the Brothers of Charity in Limerick.

I ask the Minister of State to confirm that funding will be restored to enable the respite facility in Limerick used by 63 families and their loved ones to remain open. While the sum involved, €150,000, falls far short of a Taoiseach's salary, it impacts on 63 families. I also want the Minister of State to state the €1.08 million in funding cuts will be restored. Society is judged on how it deals with the most vulnerable, including the disabled. I do not want a general response but specific assurances that this matter will be addressed.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure I will be able to help the Deputy because the Minister for Health and Children has asked me to respond to the following motion which was raised on the Adjournment: "To call on the Minister for Health and Children to make a statement on the need to provide and maintain respite care services for families in need of respite." I have not been asked to respond on any issue related to Limerick.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, I raised the matter in that form because it was the only way I was allowed to do so. Previously, when this matter was raised in respect of the Bawnmore centre, respite was not an issue. As my case and that of my colleague, Deputy Feighan, show, Deputies are being forced to raise general statements when the Government is well aware that we are seeking specific answers. Ministers come before the Chamber and give us answers consisting of general waffle, which is not good enough.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is not my problem. I have been asked to respond to a-----

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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With due respect to the Minister of State, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, or the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, should be present.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not my responsibility to select Adjournment matters or decide what matters may or may not be raised. I can only respond on behalf of a Minister to the Adjournment matter which has been selected.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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If that is the case, why is the Minister of State here?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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The matter raised is clear. It is printed on the document before us and is general rather than specific in nature.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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As is well known, the matter was specific when I submitted it.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is not well known to me.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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We will allow the Minister of State to respond. He can note the specific issue raised by the Deputy and respond later.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not possible, the Health Service Executive supports access to quality long-term residential care where this is appropriate. In line with this overall approach, a priority of Government in recent years has been to develop a range of community based supports such as home help, home care packages and day-respite care. Between 2006 and 2010, additional investment of more than €200 million was provided to the HSE to develop community-based services for older people. Without these initiatives, many older people would spend longer than necessary in acute hospitals, or would be admitted to residential care earlier than might be required.

The HSE service plan 2010, approved by the Minister for Health and Children last March, commits the executive to providing agreed levels of service nationally for these key community support areas. The plan includes respite care, often available through day care or home care packages, and is delivered either directly by the HSE, or in partnership with the voluntary or private sectors. Broadly speaking, the level of community supports for older people in 2010 is in line with 2009 provision. There is an increase this year in the number of home care packages available due to an additional €10 million given in the last budget for this purpose.

The key activity targets contained in this year's HSE service plan are almost 12 million home help hours to approximately 54,500 people, increased home care package provision from 8,700 recipients at any one time in 2009 to 9,600 in 2010 and a total of 21,300 day care places, which is estimated to cater for up to 80,000 people. While this target is slightly down from a comparable figure of 21,600 places last year, the respite element of day care would be generally compensated for in the overall 2010 home care service picture.

Any changes to these commitments, as part of the agreed HSE service plan, would need to be notified to the Department. Other important initiatives are also being undertaken at a strategic level to improve community-based services for older people. Arising from an evaluation of home care packages, published by the Department last December, the HSE established a taskforce to progress, this year, various improvements in home care provision. The Department accepts the need for a more standardised approach to home care generally, whether by public or private provision. This year the HSE intends to finalise and circulate standardised access and operational guidelines for delivery of home care packages, adopt and disseminate a voluntary code of quality guidelines for home care support services for older people and develop and publish a procurement framework for home care services.

The various guidelines now being prepared are intended to allow the HSE implement a more standardised approach nationally to the provision of home care services, including respite care, in the context of interlinking with the wider range of services.

The HSE has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services. The Deputy will appreciate that all developments in the area of home care need to be addressed in light of the current economic and budgetary pressures. The executive has been asked to make a rigorous examination of how existing funding might be reconfigured or reallocated to ensure maximum service provision is achieved. This requires a stringent ongoing review of the application of the resources available. It is, consequently, a matter for the executive to manage the services I have outlined, including respite care, at national, regional or local level, bearing in mind all relevant factors such as overall resources, local circumstances or evolving service priorities.

I have taken note of what the Deputy said about Limerick city and will convey his views to the Minister for Health and Children.