Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

As I said yesterday, the proposed cut in the payment to young people with disabilities is callous and unnecessary. To single out this group for such a cut is truly a retrograde step. The Taoiseach's attempted explanations yesterday did not add up as young people with disabilities will have their incomes dramatically reduced - some to the tune of €111 a week - no matter how much he tried to camouflage it. Yesterday he tried to muddy the waters and hide the reality of the cut to be made.

The targeting of young people with disabilities not only represents another broken promise, it is also deeply cynical and a fundamental breach of faith because when asked by Miriam O'Callaghan during the general election debate on "Prime Time" what the number one social issue he would pursue if elected was, the Tánaiste said he thought it would be looking after people with disabilities, that the first group the Labour Party in government would address, in terms of equality and providing decent supports, would be people with disabilities. He said that, as a country, we had to make this the priority. He was quickly followed in that debate by the Taoiseach who said that aim was very laudable and that he shared it. In his first opportunity to turn these words into action, the Taoiseach chose to take a massive amount - €111 to €88 a week - from young people with disabilities. He is also beginning to shut the door on educational opportunities by cutting the third level disability fund by 20%. This will not be forgotten. The decision to target young people with disabilities should be reversed as it is callous and cold. Government backbenchers know this is true.

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