Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

We had a debate last Thursday on disability. Politics and being in government is about making choices, in good or difficult times. The cuts in the budget announced in December and its follow-on, in terms of provision for funding for people with disabilities and organisations that provide care and facilities for people with disabilities, are now beginning to bite very severely. The Minister of State said these should be able to provide the same level of care, support and facilities they deserve and need as last year, but there have been budget cuts of 4.5%. The Government said it is less than that but I have yet to be convinced that is correct.

Many organisations are also obligated by the Croke Park agreement and the courts to pay increments to staff. It is clear that the budget cut will be far above the 4.5% I say it is or the 2% the Government says it is. Whoever is right or wrong, the fact is that organisations providing facilities and support for people with intellectual disabilities will have less money to spend this year than they did last year.

This is coupled with other severe announcements, such as the cuts to the disability allowance and the withdrawal of the training bonus. I said I do not believe it was the responsibility of the Minister of State but the Government made a decision over and above her head to cut at the very heart of what we are trying to do as a society, which to be inclusive and allow everybody an opportunity to participate to the best of their ability.

By any stretch of the imagination, the cuts to support services and individuals and voluntary organisations working in conjunction with State agencies to provide support to groups with disabilities was a regressive step. The recommendations made by the National Disability Authority and the statements on attitudes towards people with disabilities reinforce the view that the Government can withdraw facilities and get away with it.

I ask the Minister of State to go to Cabinet and try to raise the withdrawal of the disability and training allowances. Some provision should made for organisations that are trying their best to provide support, facilities and services to people with intellectual and physical disabilities. They will be massively under resourced if they have to implement the cuts ordered by the Government and the increments provided for in Croke Park agreement and by court cases that found in favour of employees. Rightly and justly, it has been found that they are entitled to increments but the money comes from the same pool, which means fewer supports for people with intellectual disabilities will be available.

This is unfair and is driving a wedge between those providing support and services and those that need them because we have to take money from one or the other. That is unacceptable. People are entitled to support and services. Those who went to court to vindicate their rights to their increments also have rights and entitlements. The system should not be pitting one against the other because they work closely together. It is wrong for people to highlight this issue without making financial provision. This is about pounds, shillings and pence, or euro and cent in modern terms, with regard to the issue of increments and support for people with disabilities.

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