Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the programme for Government and its commitments to provide services for people with disabilities, does the Taoiseach understand the chronic shortage of funding, particularly for the section 39 organisations which are service providers for people with disabilities, and the enormous pressure they are being put under by the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding funding? That leads to the management trying to manage budgets and a chronic shortage of therapies being available to young kids, including diagnosis in the first instance. Children are then being put on a waiting list for therapies which are crucially important to allow them to lead a proper life. There are also funding shortfalls which make no sense from the point of view of the State's approach. Facilities cannot be opened because the funding is not coming through. The block grant has been cut and, at this point in time, these organisations are in rag order where funding is concerned.

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