Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

It is not a case of using disabled people to drive efficiencies. In the case of disability services, the plan provides for a 3.7% reduction in budgets but it makes it clear that there is scope for achieving a 2% saving on efficiencies, which brings it down to a 1.7% reduction. In the current climate where everybody is under pressure in terms of budgets and is required to reduce their budgets, cut down on overheads and achieve efficiencies, I think that is a reasonable figure. We want to ensure that people with disabilities do not take the hit in this regard. We want to achieve savings through reducing overheads, adopting a better approach to the provision of services and a more realistic view in regard to salaries in this area and the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, is determined to achieve those efficiencies but not at a cost to the individuals concerned who are dependent on the services. That is why this report is being brought forward and why there will shortly be recommendations on new models of care, which are more efficient and more responsive in terms of the people who need those services.

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