Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. I concur with what has been said by my colleagues. When we met with the representatives of the Brothers of Charity services in Galway last Friday they went through the figures and the cuts they have endured. There have been three consecutive years of cuts amounting to a cumulative reduction of €10.5 million, with €4.6 million of this accounted for in salary reductions for staff and the remainder of €5.9 million in the funding of service delivery. This information is available in their annual report. The Brothers of Charity have endeavoured to protect front line services, and 70% of the budget cuts have been achieved through efficiency, productivity and procurement measures. This includes significant reconfiguration of management structures, rationalisation of administrative supports and savings on such things as transport, maintenance, catering, reductions in staff travel and changes in skill mix.

After three years of cuts, the Brothers of Charity in Galway have utilised the reserves they prudently saved for a rainy day. At this stage, however, they do not know how they will bridge the gap in services. As my colleagues pointed out, eight young adults with profound disabilities are leaving the centre this year. There is huge concern about their future and the families have great uncertainty, which is compounding the challenges which the parents and young adults face each day. Over the last number of years the future of similar young adults has only been sorted out late in the day, often at the end of August. We appreciate the current financial position, but the Brothers of Charity have a number of care staff and thus a high salary bill, which is protected by the Croke Park agreement. They have done all they can to find savings.

I have written to John Hennessy of HSE West and I ask the Minister to liase with that body to ensure that the front line services in Galway are protected. There is little point in fixing the economic and financial situation in this country if we will not protect the most vulnerable young adults who had no hand, act or part in our present economic difficulties.

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