Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue for discussion today. As the House is aware, news came through late last night that the residential service provided by Wisdom Services at Cregg House in Sligo was to be withdrawn. That was devastating news for the many families who have a member in residence there. There are more than 214 residents at Cregg House. The service covers the whole north west, including Sligo, Leitrim, west Cavan and south Donegal. Many families from Donegal have benefited from the services at Cregg House over the years. Their loved ones have been well looked after, and I know from talking to these families that they are extremely happy with the level of service that has been provided over the years. There have never been any problems with access or visiting. This news is devastating for the families and brings unnecessary uncertainty to them and to the residents of Cregg House, many of whom will be greatly affected by the turmoil and the prospect of having to move to completely new surroundings. This will take a long time and will need to be handled carefully by the health services.

Since 2005, Cregg House has had greater reductions in support than equivalent services across the country. This information is gleaned from the HSE's own annual report. It is important to remember this in the context of today's debate.

This morning in the House, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, stated that the Cregg House Wisdom Services had voluntarily withdrawn its service. That is, at best, disingenuous. I know from discussions with Wisdom Services and with the families that they have tried to find a way to continue. The real reason the service is being withdrawn at Cregg House is that, in 2012, it suffered a €1.3 million reduction in its budget from the HSE. Since 2008, there has been a total reduction of almost €4 million in funding to this vital service. It is important to put that €1.3 million reduction in context. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Joe Costello, spent €1.3 million in the last year on consultancy services in his Department. This was for 65 reports, many of which will be unread and unused and will gather dust on shelves in the Department. This is the very same amount of money that would have ensured the continuation of services at Cregg House.

The statement last night from Wisdom Services said that the HSE would continue to provide the services. I have no faith that this is the case. Indeed, the statement from Wisdom Services reads: "We sincerely hope that the HSE can in the future secure the funding required to provide people with disabilities in this area with modern accommodation." That is the crux of the issue. How will the HSE provide for the residents of Cregg House in the context of reducing budgets, a recruitment embargo and the withdrawal of services across the board in the north west and around the country? I demand that the HSE and the Government provide the funding for Wisdom Services and make up the amount of the backlog, because that is how the service can be continued. In this way, families can be sure their loved ones will receive the care and attention they rightly deserve.

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