Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

Outside the gates of Leinster House yesterday, the parents and families of children with intellectual disabilities protested about cutbacks in the services provided to such people. At the same time, certain Government Deputies had a crisis of conscience in this Chamber with regard to stag hunting. We have not heard a dickie bird from them about the decision to give €22,000 million to a septic bank. The most vulnerable people in society, many of whom cannot speak for themselves, will have to carry on their shoulders the debt resulting from that decision. The crisis I am raising has resulted from the decision of the HSE to take €15 million more than was agreed from the intellectual disability budget. People with intellectual disabilities, along with their families and carers, are terrified that services which are vital to people with disabilities will be withdrawn.

I wish to refer to a letter I have received from the Ballinasloe Advocates group, which highlights the massive cuts that are proposed to vital services in the east Galway and south Roscommon area. The group in question comprises parents who are trying to manage as best they can, sometimes in intolerable situations, as they care for people who pose various challenges and require care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The letter states "we strove and begged during the "Celtic Tiger" years and received what could be described as minuscule improvements". They were given the scraps from the table, year in year out, and now they are facing severe cuts in the services they need. The HSE has left the Brothers of Charity in Roscommon and Ballinasloe with no option other than to introduce significant restrictions. This significant impact of this measure on valuable day, respite and residential services will cause untold hardship for parents of people with intellectual disabilities. It is likely that some services will have to close completely from January 2011. These cuts will lead to the amalgamation of a number of homes, with consequent effects on residents. I have already written to the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, to express my health and safety concerns about one of these facility in County Roscommon.

The unexpected moratorium cut that was proposed and introduced by the HSE has caused us enormous problems. The Brothers of Charity are unable to fill vacancies that arise, even in front line positions, despite the Government's contention that the moratorium would not affect vital services. This matter has been brought to the attention of local HSE staff and the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney. It is galling for service providers to be told by the HSE and the Government to cut their non-existent administration budget, at a time when the Department of Health and Children has increased its budget for office supplies by 67%, its budget for consultancy services by 600% and its entertainment budget from €100,000 to €200,000. These appalling facts demonstrate the lack of priority of this Government, which is turning its back on the most vulnerable people in our community.

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