David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I understand it is difficult. Will the Minister of State consider these figures and come back to me with a comprehensive and easily understood table of figures because I cannot follow the figures provided to me at all? Hundreds of millions of euro are missing. It took six months to get the figures to me, but they are still not right.

Last year, €17 million in current funding that was supposed to be for disability services was handed back to the HSE and the Department of Health and Children. Why was that money not spent? Is the Government taking this matter seriously? In 2006, current spending on disability services was €71 million. The estimated out-turn for this year is €3.6 million, which shows that the budget in this area has been filleted. How will these people survive? I ask the Minister of State to take this issue by the scruff of the neck. He should give this House the information, which I asked for six months ago, in clear and comprehensible tabular form. The people in question are insisting that they are not getting the money or the services. Is it not time for the Minister of State to supply the clear information I asked for six months ago?

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