Mr. Gary Lee:

Deputy Colreavy spoke about a legislative basis. Ireland is in the dark ages when it comes to legislative protection for people with disabilities. One only has to look to the jurisdiction beside us and other countries in Europe to see meaningful legislative protection for people with disabilities.

Personal assistant services, the allowances and these grants should have a legislative basis. Otherwise they can be removed with the stroke of a pen as we have seen. I concur with the view expressed in this regard.