Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for the opportunity of speaking in this urgent debate on health, including the overall management of our health service. Despite all the talk from the Minister and the Government about budgets, targets, beds, mental health and services for people with disabilities, there are still major problems in the health service. We have a huge problem in the disability sector, so I urge action and common sense in this debate.

Up to 700 young adults with an intellectual and physical disability have left school this year but there will be no place for them in September due to the disastrous management of the health service. It is a nightmare for these people and their families. I am calling for immediate action on this priority issue. The services that should be there for them were cut by 3.7% in January. Some €750,000 was cut from one service alone on the north side of Dublin. The same service now has 40 service users who are in crisis and need residential care. This service has also been told that there will be no money for it come next September.

This is what is happening to people with disability. This is the real world for the most vulnerable sections of society. Ministers should all hang their heads in shame over this issue. People with disability did not cause this economic and banking crisis; they should never be forced to pay for the actions of greedy people.

The Minister got his figures wrong concerning the €500 million overspend. People are still on trolleys and wards are being closed, as are operating theatres. Yet we see cynical attacks on staff who are doing an excellent job against the odds. This is all due to a failure to plan the health budget and a lack of common sense in dealing with health issues.

I urge all Deputies to support these issues in the health debate. It is time to take tough decisions but money should be spent on our health service via a fair and equitable tax system.

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