Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I am a little surprised to hear the planning process is under way to ensure the needs of school leavers will be considered and prioritised when one cannot prioritise something if no funding is being provided for it. This is the first time ever there is no provision for such school leavers. I understand the need for efficiencies and savings and I have no problems with the 2% savings, but to use disabled people to drive efficiencies in organisations is not fair. It not the job of the disabled to drive efficiencies; it is the job of the Minister and the HSE to ensure there are efficiencies.

The service provider are now being asked to provide services for additional people out of funding that is now 14% less then it was a few years ago. It is not possible to effect the kind of efficiencies that will ensure there is no reduction in front line services. I am talking specifically about the school leavers. If there is no provision, there is no service. I am not seeking the allocation of additional funding into the health service but that there must a reallocation of funding within the overall €14 billion. In that €14,000 million surely it is possible to find even half of the meagre sum of €10 million which was allocated last year. If they even got €5 million, at least it would ensure that those children who are leaving school would get out of the house sometime over the rest of their lives.

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