Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today marks the first anniversary of the appalling tragedy in Berkeley, California last year where we lost six of our brightest J1 students while several others were seriously injured. It is appropriate that we again send our sympathies to the families of those who passed away and those who were injured on this most difficult of days. Our thoughts are with them today.

I wish to raise two issues. This day next week, the Brexit referendum will take place. Has the Government prepared a legislative response in the event of the people of the United Kingdom voting to leave the EU? How many legislative instruments will be affected? When will that kick in?

Second, in the context of the health Estimates, which will be discussed later, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, who made a brief appearance in the Chamber but who has left again, announced €31 million in additional funding for disability services on the plinth last week. However, this morning the St. John of God order has had to withdraw services for teenagers with intellectual disabilities who are attached to St. Augustine's school in Blackrock because it does not have enough funding.

A vocational training programme will be withdrawn in the course of the next two years, while a life skills programme is being withdrawn with immediate effect. The teenagers who have participated in this programme have had huge success over many years. The programme has given huge comfort to families and very important life skills to those who have participated in it. In the context of the additional €31 million in new money that will be provided, will the Tánaiste explain why what has been proposed is happening today?

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