Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank the Acting Chairman, Deputy Jack Wall, for allowing me to raise this issue. Several of my constituents have children with intellectual disability who have been attending Saint Michael's House. Upon completing their education at the end of this academic year and reaching 18 years of age, these children expect to proceed to Cheeverstown House for what is known as rehabilitative training to facilitate maximising their potential for their future lives. In the context of the Government's plan to provide disability services, it was promised that moneys would be ring-fenced, training facilities would be extended and additional places would be made available. As at yesterday, as far as these parents were concerned, there was no certainty that places would be made available. One family received a letter from Cheeverstown House stating that it had not received confirmation of funding for rehabilitative training placement for their son from the HSE and, therefore, it was not in a position to offer him a place.

My colleagues Deputies Michael Creed and Kieran O'Donnell raised the same issue yesterday evening with regard to the provision of places for children suffering from intellectual disability in counties Cork and Limerick. I want to clarify for certain where matters now stand. I read with interest the Minister of State's speech last night in which he made contradictory statements. He said: "The funding will be in place for the children in question." That seemed as if it was resolving the issue. He then went on to say:

There has been a delay in explaining how soon it will come through. Most of the concerns raised, quite properly, by the voluntary organisations were raised because they had not heard that the funding was in place. The reality is that once we can commit ourselves to allocating the funding, the issue will be dealt with.

Having said the funding will be in place he then said, conversely, that when he could commit himself to allocating the funding the issue would be dealt with. A perception was created last night that the problem was solved. That perception is confirmed from a statement on the Minister of State's website this afternoon. This states developments with regard to intellectual disability "will include new day places for young people leaving school and additional therapy supports for pre-school children and for children with autism". The statement further states "the HSE was now in a position to roll-out the planned disability developments as outlined in its 2008 Service Plan". While the Minister of State put that on his website this afternoon, the Taoiseach, today in the Dáil told Members when the issue was raised:

The HSE hopes to be able to finalise the position regarding the commencement of the developments, including those required to meet the needs of school-leavers with disabilities, over the next ten days.

The Minister of State in his speech last night referred to a press release he said the HSE issued that afternoon which confirmed the problem was solved. When I contacted the HSE it knew nothing of the press release. It does not appear on its website and the press officer could not find one. Will the Minister of State say very clearly that the training places for these school-leavers with intellectual disability, which parents expected to be provided earlier this year in Cheeverstown House, will be available for certain? If this is the case I welcome it.

Nevertheless, the level of mismanagement on the part of the HSE and the Government in creating these difficulties and uncertainties is unforgivable. I have received phone calls from parents who, having assisted their children to work through the education system within the resources available in Saint Michael's House — indeed people elsewhere have been in contact with me on this matter — are greatly stressed and believe their children have been cut off from further services to which they were entitled. These parents believe the Government was breaking its promise to them.

If the Government is not breaking its promise and if the disability services will be provided, it is welcome. However, no parents should have been put in a position where they received a letter such as the letter from Cheeverstown House to which I referred earlier. Cheeverstown House should not have been in a position where it had no certainty about the funding it would receive, or did not know whether it could provide the service. It is now essential that in very simple straightforward language, with no qualification, we are told if the places will be available. Can the Minister of State confirm the funding will be provided? Can the Minister of State explain why he put on his website what appears to be a confirmation that all is in order on the same day the Taoiseach tells the House that the matter will not be resolved for at least another ten days?

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