Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and his officials here today. I assure him that while he is busy with his ministerial ship, I will mind the ship in west Cork. He can rest assured of that.

On a serious note, I see the budget for people with disabilities is on par with that for 2017. I would have expected more progress with the transport support allowance, for example. I know that is within the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, but perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, has some comments to make on it.

In the Minister of State's own area of mental health, I note there is a 10% increase in funding, which is very welcome and should not be knocked. However, the Minister of State must admit that not enough is being done. Without the likes of organisations such as Pieta House, the country would be in a very difficult place. I would welcome a comment in that regard.

Does the Minister of State think the extra 4% spend could help to tackle the waiting lists which are now at 288 for an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, assessment in Marian House, Cork? Both the Minister of State and I have a lot of constituents who are on the waiting list for two years. Because of the importance of early intervention, two years is not good enough. Will some of the extra funding be channelled in that direction?

Deputy Louise O'Reilly mentioned scoliosis. The Minister of State put a strong emphasis on what would be done to address the issue in his speech. A boy in west Cork was diagnosed at the age of 11. He is now 16 and he has yet to be treated five years later. What is happening is not good enough.

What resources does the Minister of State envisage being put into rural hospitals such as Bantry General Hospital in our constituency? As he is aware Bantry General Hospital has been seeking a rehabilitation and endoscopy unit for some time. The Minister of State might just tell me what resources will be allocated to Bantry General Hospital?