Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Some of those affected by this asked me to convey how urgently this must be resolved. One person said that if it is cut, he will have to go to St. Vincent de Paul and it would be devastating for him. He pointed out that the funds allow for those with disabilities to enjoy real autonomy and that minibuses and so on will seriously degrade their quality of life if that is the alternative that is being considered. This allows people to operate at some level as autonomous individuals with self-determination. Public transport can take a person to certain points but they will then face the huge extra difficulties getting from the public transport node to the place of work or residence. To take this away will seriously degrade people's quality of life and they want to know that is not going to happen.

The question at the top of the list for those who are losing out is if there is any plan in place in case this has not been sorted out by 27 March. There is a review group that is undertaking discussions to come up with some sort of long-term solution for this but what happens if the Department has not come up with a solution that is acceptable to all stakeholders by that date? People would be reassured by an answer to that question telling them a plan is in place and that people will not suffer after that date.

It was said no decision had been made the last time we met. Was it being contemplated then? If it was being contemplated, it was wrong not to let this committee know and not to let the public and those who might be affected by the decision know. That would have given everyone a sense of urgency in coming up with a solution and would have shown some respect for the committee and, most importantly, for those who might be affected by this shocking announcement the Department made.

Following on from that, given that the people affected by this announcement are aggrieved at the sudden and shocking nature of this announcement and have been left in a state of uncertainty, what assurances can the Secretary General give that the concerns, needs and wishes of the people affected will take pre-eminence in the consultations of the review group? Who is involved in the group and to what extent does it genuinely represent those affected by the recent decision, the stakeholders?