Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I want to raise a number of issues and develop some of them further in regard to children with special needs and children and adults with an intellectual disability, whose service is threatened due to the current economic crisis. I hope the Taoiseach is aware of the major problems facing many families of children and adults with disability following the excellent "Prime Time Investigates" programme last night. It was an excellent example of public broadcasting highlighting the needs of the most vulnerable sections of society. This morning I attended a fund-raising event in Donnycarney for autistic children where the issue on the agenda was cuts to those services.

With regard to the intellectual disability sector, is the Taoiseach aware that we have a major problem with 3,845 people with an intellectual disability on waiting lists for residential day care and respite places? In view of that, I ask him not to cut any service for a child or adult with a disability and to make that a priority issue over the course of the next four years. Can the Taoiseach give me a commitment on that in the Dáil today?

Does the Taoiseach accept that children and adults with a disability and their families did not cause this economic mess and should not be blamed or penalised for it? That is an important point. Can he and his Government make that a core principle over the next four years?

Is the Taoiseach aware that 2,158 residential places, 208 day care places and 1,479 respite places are needed to end the waiting lists over the next four years? What are his plans to end those long waiting lists and to support those people and their families?

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