Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The first is disability funding. There is a real problem when Governments and Government Deputies make pronouncements in good faith. For example, it was announced that there would be a reduction to service providers of 1.2% in 2013. Service providers up and down the country have told us that they took a reduction of approximately 2%. The precise figure they mention tends to vary. In the case of one organisation, a 1.2% drop would have meant a reduction of €234,000, whereas a 2% drop would have meant a reduction of €390,000. It is obvious that this makes a real difference in the provision of front-line services for people with disabilities. In our own day-to-day interactions with these groups we have all seen the impact this has had. I congratulate Mr. Byrne on his appointment and wish him well in his role as chief financial officer. Why does 1.2% not always mean 1.2%? Have service providers which were told they would be taking a cut of 1.2% had to take a greater cut?