Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As spokesperson on disabilities for Fianna Fáil, I wish to discuss some of the measures introduced in the budget. With regard to the €5 increase in the disability allowance, as they say in west Cork it is better than a kick from a donkey. In other words, it is better than nothing, but it is not enough. The increase, which is due to be implemented next March, just keeps parity with other social welfare recipients. It does not take account of the extra costs that having a disability incurs. The disability groups I met before the budget had hoped for a €20 increase. I was hoping for that too, but perhaps it will happen next year. The 50 cent reduction in prescription charges is also helpful, but the phasing out of this levy must be the ultimate aim.

It is important to recognise the challenges faced by people living with a disability and to address the costs associated with it. We await details of the 2018 HSE service plan but at this point we are advised that it will focus on a number of priority areas, including residential places, respite places and personal assistant and home support service hours. Clearly, our continued role in the confidence and supply arrangement is based on progress in areas such as these and, therefore, the ultimate test is the delivery of these measures, particularly when we see that the 2017 service plan failed to match the 2016 personal assistant and home support service hours provided. If the current trend continues the service will be 120,000 hours short of what was provided in 2016.

On a more positive note, the €3 million in funding for the Decision Support Service to facilitate the implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act is welcome and will aid decision making for adults with capacity difficulties. Overall, the €15 million for new disability measures is a disappointing increase. In that regard, I will seek to ensure that what has been promised will be delivered. I also welcome the additional 1,090 special needs assistant, SNA, positions. Fianna Fáil put the SNA allocation policy in place in 1998. The previous Government deeply eroded the policy. While I welcome the new allocations, I ask that the fiasco of last summer not be repeated. We had to wait until well into the summer before the allocations were made, so principals, pupils, parents and the SNAs did not know where they stood.

I also ask Ministers to address the huge disconnect between announcements and delivery. They should walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

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