Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Rehab has threatened to serve a 12-month notice of termination in respect of some of its services. Thankfully that has now been postponed pending negotiations. The first that many parents and family members who rely on Rehab services heard of this was when the story broke yesterday. It has caused immense distress for the 3,000 people who access these services, some of whom are outside the gates of Leinster House today protesting for more care services, for example for wheelchair users.

Rehab is seeking an additional €2 million, not €2 billion as for the children's hospital or €3 billion as for broadband. It is a very modest €2 million. There are a number of reasons for this deficit, including people having higher care costs as they get older and the requirements of meeting Health Information and Quality Authority standards. When will the individuals who rely on these services and their families get certainty that they will get what by the standards of this Government is a trifling amount - a mere €2 million?

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