Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. I congratulate Mr. Tony O'Brien on his appointment. On question No. 23 which I submitted, which relates to follow-on services for severely disabled people, would the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, consider having an examination of the appropriateness of the facilities that are available to disabled people after they leave second level education at approximately the age of 18? It is not just a question of money, in the sense that in many cases services are provided by what were formerly voluntary organisations. Would it be possible to streamline organisations so as to save money in terms of administration costs and to perhaps provide a service that is as good or better?

If I am out of order the Minister could indicate that in his response, but since the time for submitting questions closed I got a very angry letter from a group of GPs in my constituency who say that the further round of cuts in payments to GPs under the FEMPI legislation is leading to a situation where they will provide less service and therefore more people will end up in accident and emergency departments. Is there any basis for that allegation?