Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thought I might be falling over in anticipation today when I would be asking this question because the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, was actually in the Chamber. As usual, he absconded before we could actually get to the promised legislation in order to avoid answering any questions. During our schooldays, if we had been able to shoot the breeze and fist-pump and high-five our friends about a summer trip to North Korea or a grant to get Granny more money, we would all have enjoyed ourselves. It is high time for the Taoiseach to talk to the Minister of State and his Independent Alliance colleagues to ensure they come to the Chamber to account for their actions. In an interview with the Sunday Independentat the weekend, the Minister of State created a fine mess for himself and the Government. He was not brazen enough to fail to appear here today, although he subsequently removed himself from the Chamber. The Taoiseach might be willing to tolerate this as long as the Minister of State does not raise any heckles about his use of the office of the Taoiseach to write fan mail to Kylie Minogue, or indeed about the Government's performance in health or housing.

My question today relates to the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation in County Donegal and the ICARE Centre for Autism in Buncrana. When the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, met those involved with these organisations in the past, he promised he would look at making funds forthcoming to assist them. He has not done that. They have received small funding from the HSE from local funds. The Minister of State has not ensured funding has been forthcoming to support them in their work. As he is not here, I am calling on the Taoiseach to ask him to follow up on his promise. Perhaps the Taoiseach could also ask the Minister of State and his Independent Alliance colleagues to attend this Chamber to be held to account for their performance.

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