Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

As Deputy Jan O'Sullivan has said, the English language has taken a battering over the last two days. I have never heard cuts defined in so many different ways, and with words that we normally do not associate with withdrawal of funding. We spent six years waiting for the Disability Bill to be published and it was then withdrawn because of objections from the disability sector. When it was eventually introduced we spent six months going through page after page of amendments, meeting delegations from all the various groups, bearing in mind that the disability sector covers a wide area. We consistently asked during all the debates that funding be ring-fenced for the sector and that future embargos would not apply to it. At the time we were told there would be no cutbacks and that there never be another embargo. As the disability sector was starting from such a low base, we consistently asked that it be protected from any embargo on the recruitment of staff. We were told there was no need for such a provision, that we should not worry about it and that capacity would be built in the sector. The first people to fall off the end of bench when things got a little tighter were those in the disability sector.

Last week I asked the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, about the €50 million that was earmarked for disability services for this year. We were told in no uncertain terms on two different nights that the €50 million was protected and that it would be rolled out within the next ten days. We heard today that only €33 million of that funding will be rolled out. The excuse given is that as we are half way through the year, we could not possibly expect to get €50 million funding; that funding was supposed to be only for one year. By virtue of the sheer location of the population, the bulk of that €33 million will have to be spent in the Dublin and Leinster area. What are those in the rest of the country to do?

Last week I met representatives of the Centre for Independent Living in Cork. They had put in place a service system of personal assistants. Personal assistants do not have medical training but they have other training. Their training is in respect of the individual who needs their help. They get people out of bed, wash them, feed them, take them out, take them to work, drive them on holidays and ensure they can do, in so far as possible, the activities we take for granted. This service is equivalent of our having a helper and a carer in circumstances when we would need one. The funding for that service in Cork was pulled; it was never given, therefore, it did not exist. Some €220,000 was needed to maintain the service and last week they were assured they would get it, but this week that is not so certain.

When one reflects on what has been achieved in this economy in recent years and on those who contributed to achieving that, one will note that the people who contributed most are those who will be hit first. They are various areas that need to be considered in this respect. We have heard that some €85 million has been withdrawn from the fair deal scheme, but such funding was never given. I am not certain how such funding can be called a saving if it was not given in the first instance.

How can we possibly stand over a situation where a woman is living in a nursing home, the cost of which is €950 per week, and she is in receipt of a subvention payment of only €140 per week? How can the Government stand over that? How can it stand over a situation where because of one's age, one is treated differently in this country from other people? One does not suddenly lose one's citizenship on reaching the age of 65. Someone someday is going to take a case about this and that person will be successful. We would not say to a 30 year old who became chronically ill and was in need of long-term care that he or she had to sell his or her house to obtain such care. We would not dream of saying that——

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