Ms Magdalen Rogers:

I thank members for this opportunity to reflect the needs of more than 700,000 people who live with a neurological condition. In May of this year, the Irish Government hosted European month of the brain as part of events for its EU Presidency. The irony is that Ireland is among the most challenging countries in which to live with a neurological condition. In the year in which our country was the focal point for neurological conditions, we are calling on the Government to halt the effects of years of successive cutbacks to health and disability services which have had a devastating impact on people with neurological conditions and their families.

I am aware of time constraints this morning and refer members to our full pre-budget submission. I will group some of our most important themes under the following headings. Overall, living with a neurological condition in Ireland is becoming increasingly difficult because of the range of cuts to health, education and disability services which have taken place over recent years. Neurological conditions are among the commonest causes of significant disability so, proportionately, these people are the most vulnerable to these cuts. The examples outlined in our pre-budget submission include increases in the cost of medical care represented by prescription and other charges, cuts to transport services which effectively deny access to health services for those who need them, and cuts to personal assistance services.

We are critically reliant in Ireland on the not-for-profit sector to provide neurological care. The strength of this sector has been steadily eroded because of successive funding cuts of up 15% in recent years resulting in the curtailing and withdrawal of vital helpline, respite and support services to people with neurological conditions and their families.

By cutting community-based home support, transport and other services, we are choosing the most expensive option for caring for the growing numbers of Irish people with neurological conditions. Cutting community supports places greater reliance on hospital and nursing home care. While cutting community-based supports does not have the same optics as removing beds and closing wards, its effect is no less devastating on our health services and those who need care.

What is the Neurological Alliance of Ireland calling for? We are calling for the Government to take actions in line with its policy of keeping people in their homes for as long as possible by halting and reversing key cuts in community-based supports such as personal assistance, home help, home care supports and home adaptation grants. We call for it to recognise that not-for-profit neurological organisations cannot sustain further cuts without them having a devastating impact on vital services and supports for people with neurological conditions. We call for a halt to funding cuts to disability organisations and for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to renew the scheme for national voluntary organisations.