Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

We now have no idea what commitments in the programme for Government will be met. Perhaps the Taoiseach will tell us what are the priorities of this Government, in particular in respect of health given the delivery of a fully modern patient-centred health service is one of three issues listed as important.

Already, money allocated for areas such as mental health, palliative care, disability services, as raised again this morning by Deputy Gilmore, and care of the elderly has been diverted by the Health Service Executive for other purposes. Will the Taoiseach give a clear indication, as leader of the country, whether money will be spent in those areas to which it has been allocated, in particular, in respect of the provision of disability services? Also, will he devise a mechanism through which he can control what the HSE does with its budget? Given the cutbacks recently announced, funding specifically ringfenced for these areas is in danger.

What mechanism will the Taoiseach, as leader of Government, use to ensure this funding is spent in areas such as disability services given the concerns outlined in this regard by my party leader this morning? Young people coming out of educational services have nowhere to go. Similarly, people in acute beds in hospitals who need only support in the community have nowhere to go.

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