John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

I wish to thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for facilitating me in raising this important issue, which concerns not alone my constituency but many others throughout the country. I am a member of the Government party and have voted for various adjustments and cutbacks that were deemed necessary in the past few years. I did so because I felt it was the right thing to do at the time. I am not coming back as a hypocrite to say that we should not have done so and that we now want to give more money to these people. I am simply asking the Government to examine this particular sector of our society. From time to time and for different reasons, we describe various sections as being vulnerable. Unlike many Members of this House, these people are not able-bodied and have a difficult path in life.

I have been contacted recently by the parents of those who are attending the Brothers of Charity in Newcastle West, St. Joseph's Foundation in Charleville, St. Vincent's in Lisnagry and other such facilities in my constituency. There is grave concern about plans that may have to be adopted in the coming months. In the past few years, unfortunately, budgets have had to be reduced in this particular sector. Despite this they were able to carry on and made the most of it. They did their best and, to be fair to them, they are providing a wonderful service. Nonetheless, I am concerned about the current situation. We are facing into another difficult budget and will have to examine all sectors of society to see where savings can be made. We are spending a huge amount of money in our health service. Some years ago, the House decided to give a budget to the HSE, which is responsible for operating those services. The people to whom I have referred are dependent on judgment calls by the HSE as to the amount of funding they will receive at any given time.

Sometimes I have to wonder when I see moneys being spent in other ways, of which we are all well aware, while parts of the health service must put up with very limited budgets. Adults and children who use the services provided by the Brothers of Charity have been advised that, from September, the canteen will close, so they will have to bring packed lunches instead. That really disturbs me, as it does also the parents of those involved. Many of those parents are aged and have genuine concerns because they want to give the best to their sons and daughters. They want to ensure that when they pass on to their eternal reward, the necessary services will be there to look after their children in comfort and dignity. That is very important.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Connick, for attending the House to reply to this Adjournment matter. We are talking about a very vulnerable group who have suffered quite enough through their disabilities. I, for one, do not want to see them being asked to bring a packed lunch to their schools or workshops. Surely to God we can find the necessary funding to give them that comfort. We must also support their parents who are anxious for their children to be looked after in a dignified and reasonable way.

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