Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this matter, which came to my attention over a week ago when the parents of adults who are residents in Bawnmore, and the service providers, the Brothers of Charity, advised me that the brothers were due €1.5 million from the HSE in respect of services. They had various discussions ongoing with the HSE but the money was not forthcoming and they needed the matter raised in the Dáil. I put the matter down on the Adjournment a number of times last week but it was not allowed. I am pleased it is allowed tonight and I am looking for a result.

We are concerned here with services for up to 100 intellectually disabled persons who are resident in the Bawnmore complex as well as throughout Limerick city and county. This involves 60 staff who care for these adults. As Deputy Noonan mentioned, today the Brothers of Charity informed more than 30 people working in full-time whole-time equivalent posts that if funding is not forthcoming from the HSE their jobs will finish at the end of December. If funding is not received, another 30 full-time carers will be let go in March. A total of 40 adults using the service will be affected from the end of December and up to 100 will be affected from March.

If 60 full-time posts are let go it will affect all services in the Brothers of Charity in Bawnmore. This is a disgrace. The Brothers of Charity do not even have a letter of intent from the HSE that this funding will be forthcoming. This is an indictment on the Government, the HSE and local Ministers. I hope and expect that in the reply we receive from the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, that not only will the funding be provided but that we will be given a date and it will provided as a matter of urgency. The parents of these young and older adults are extremely concerned. Once again, the Government is hitting the most vulnerable sections of society, this time the disabled. I expect to hear a positive response and we will not let this go.

See this speech in context