Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for the opportunity to raise this important issue. Given the country's current perilous financial situation, Deputies on all sides of the House are only too well aware of the harsh budgets cuts that need to be made to ensure Ireland regains its sovereignty and turns the current economic tide. However, what is imperative is that we continue to protect services to the most vulnerable citizens among us and, thus, it is imperative that funding for organisations that provide services to people with disabilities are maintained.

Associations such as Ability West and the services provided by the Brothers of Charity are just two instances of services that must be protected amid the forthcoming cuts. Ability West was set up in 1962 by parents and friends of people with intellectual disabilities. It provides high quality services and supports to more than 480 children and adults with an intellectual disability in 55 centres in Galway city and county. As a voluntary organisation, it already relies heavily on fund-raising events and is currently organising everything from cookery demonstrations to fashion shows and Christmas draws in an effort to continue its current service levels. Any change to the funding of such organisations would have a huge impact on every one of those 480 families, many of whom are already struggling financially.

The Brothers of Charity service is another such service that provides a very important service. In Galway alone, the Brothers of Charity cater for more than 1,000 people with intellectual disabilities. Its services are divided equally between children and adults, with an emphasis on community-based services such as early childhood services and supported employment to name but two. Half of those clients attend centre-based services, while the other half are supported in their local preschools, schools or other community settings. The Brothers of Charity Services Galway currently operates with an annual budget of €51 million, with the principal funding coming from the HSE.

Any cut in funding would have a devastating effect on organisations that work with people with intellectual disabilities. It would discourage those people already volunteering with such organisations, it would demoralise staff and result in redundancies, it would create even more worry for the families of people with intellectual disabilities, but most importantly it would have a direct and negative impact on the quality of life enjoyed by people with intellectual disabilities, people who very often are not in a position to lobby politicians or demonstrate outside Leinster House or take on any of the very visible campaigns that have been mounted by other groups. However, it is imperative that their needs be taken into account as this budget, which everyone recognises will be harsh, is drawn up.

The welfare of children with special needs must be a top priority during coming years as severe budgets continue. A structure has been put in place through the hard work and dedication in recent years and decades, which features tailor-made solutions to the needs of individual children and adults, providing them with the educational support they need, often in a local or community setting, by working with their parents and building up strong relationships. That work must be recognised in the forthcoming budget.

I fully recognise that the Minister for Finance and the Minister of State present are faced with a hugely difficult task in framing the coming budget, and that everyone will have to feel the repercussions of the fact that we as a country are currently spending money we do not have and that we will find it difficult to access money given the European debt crisis, but the most vulnerable people in society must be shielded from the worst brunt of the coming cuts. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that protecting services for the most vulnerable in our society remains a top priority in these crucial weeks as budget matters are finalised.

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