Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. I am trying to encourage him and the Ministers for Health and Finance not to cut these services which have already lost 104 staff. I believe an 8% cut is on the agenda of the Health Service Executive in the coming weeks. An 8% cut in St. Michael's House services will result in the loss of significant services that will wipe out residential and extra care services. I raise that issue with the Taoiseach.

Is he aware that there are 240 parents over 70 years of age caring for their son or daughter with an intellectual disability at home? A total of 147 of those families are in serious difficulty and there is significant pressure on them and on St. Michael's House. They are the figures for people in their 70s and 80s with adult children with intellectual disabilities in their 30s and 40s. They are not large figures and there is an opportunity for creative budgeting and creating care services to look after those people. Does the Taoiseach think it is fair for there to be any cuts in those services? Does he still believe in the just society? Will he support me in ensuring that St. Michael's House and other intellectual disability services are not cut in the next budget?

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