Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

An article in last weekend's edition of theSunday Independentemphasises a number of pressures on the State's income and expenditure. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is referenced on numerous occasions in the article, so it is getting to that time of the year again. What is interesting is that the report issued by his Department refers to public service pay pressures, the deep housing crisis and various other issues, such as the Brexit challenge, but it does not mention the pressure on people with disabilities. There are 600,000 people in Ireland with disabilities and they are extremely worried about the challenges that are arising in respect of public expenditure ceilings. To take respite care as an example, if one talks to the parents of children with autism, respite has ceased, certainly in my region, where there is no respite care whatsoever. The policies in place are reducing the services to people with disabilities. We need some commitment that the programme for Government commitment in regard to disabilities will be adhered to and prioritised in the context of Government spending.

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