Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State mentioned that she would include the County and City Managers Association, CCMA, for the first time, but it is local authority members in towns and counties who decide where money should be spent at Estimates time. A great deal of good work has been done by a former independent member of Mullingar Town Council to create awareness and to ensure that a safety audit was conducted. The audit called for additional footpaths, tactile paving and so on. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to include elected members via the county and city mayors association. In light of last week's paper, I am concerned that the Government seems to be diminishing the role of local authorities in local democracy.

If the cuts to allowances for people with disabilities participating in community employment, CE, schemes proceed, people with disabilities will not opt to join CE schemes. An extra €20 per week and 18 hours of work would provide invaluable training for those people and might allow them to find full-time employment.

Deputy Boyd Barrett articulated the discrepancies in the domiciliary care allowance. I would like to speak on the matter further, but time does not permit. It is an issue of concern to the many families of people with special needs.

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