Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Governments must make choices every day, and sometimes they are difficult choices. I have disagreed with many of the choices made by this Government in recent years, particularly on spending. The Taoiseach is well aware that in recent days, 60 organisations providing services to the intellectually disabled are now being forced to either reduce services or to cut them out entirely. This is having an enormous impact on those involved and on their parents, friends and families. It is quite stressful to see the anxiety and distress this has caused. The Taoiseach is aware the unit in Caherdavin in Limerick run by the Brothers of Charity that provides services for 377 people is to close and that two weeks' notice was given to the Daughters of Charity about the closure of the respite centre on the Old Cabra Road.

The Taoiseach is also aware that the best value for money in the health service is given by voluntary organisations, none of which is represented by SIPTU or IMPACT. These people have an enormous output for relatively little money. In the context of priorities and choices that must be made, how is it in a country where there is so much obscene wasting of public money, that this sort of choice is forced on voluntary organisations providing services to the intellectually disabled?

The Taoiseach is also aware of the consequences. How can the Taoiseach justify the reduction of services that are so important to the well-being of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities at a time when there is obscene waste?

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