Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge absolutely that there are lots of shortcomings and problems and that plenty more needs to be done. This is something that will have to form part of the budget and the Estimates process. I am sure we will find additional funding for disability services next year, as we did last year. On behalf of the Government, I want to say that we are very much committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities, supporting their families and providing more opportunities for people with disabilities.

The Deputy mentioned some of the shortcomings and failings. It is also important to balance that by acknowledging some of the progress that has been made, particularly under the leadership of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. Examples include a €90-million increase in the budget for disability services last year, which was very significant; a 34% increase in people with disabilities accessing higher education, which is very welcome and has happened over the past number of years; the first increase in weekly payments for people with disabilities, the blind, the incapacitated, invalids and their carers in eight years as a result of the previous budget; the full restoration of the carer's support grant in the budget prior to that; and real progress on medical cards, which is hugely important. Any child with a severe disability whose parents must provide domiciliary care is now entitled to a medical card by right. This has provided an extra 10,000 medical cards for children with disabilities while 40,000 are no longer subject to reviews. This has been very much welcomed across the country.

Other decisions include the fact that somebody receiving disability allowance who takes up work keeps their free travel for five years while the requirement that the work be rehabilitative has been abolished. There are many other examples I could mention. It is important to acknowledge progress and the fact that more progress needs to be made and that more needs to be done in this space. There will always be more work to be done. That is why we have Governments. Disability will be taken very seriously in the Estimates process, the budget and the service plan for the year ahead.

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