Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When I hear the Department of Health stating it will ring-fence money, it strikes fear into me. Last year we were given a commitment that mental health funding would be ring-fenced, but it was not. Instead, it was snaffled and included in the overall health budget. The €15 million set aside for the roll-out of free general practitioner care services for those participating in the long-term illness scheme was also snaffled and included in the overall budget. Accordingly, I do not have much confidence in the Department claiming that it has ring-fenced this funding.

The Ministers and the Department spent two years examining the difficulties these two schemes had encountered in complying with the Equal Status Acts. The schemes are now scrapped and we are setting up an independent review group. While the best brains in the Department could not come up with a solution in two years, the Minister is now asking an independent review group to come up with one in four months. What should have happened was that the schemes should have been allowed to continue for the time being while an independent review group was established to come up with solutions to the problems. This would, at least, allow those in receipt of the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant to continue drawing them down. However, the Government has arbitrarily cut these grants. It is a heartless cut. The Minister knows this will have a devastating impact on the quality of life of those individuals who rely on these allowances, as well as on the independence to which they are entitled and deserve.

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