Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt the sincerity of the Minister of State with regard to disability services but I am terribly disappointed by the response. As he indicated, he was informed of this today. I call on him to ensure that Sruthán House and its services are supported through and beyond this year. Cost containment is the reason for the closure. It is all about cost containment and budgetary measures and not about the people who need the services. If we do not get to grips with this, the vulnerable people in disability services will further suffer. Closing this facility, which caters for those with physical and sensory disabilities, is a direct result of a health budget that is being allowed to overrun. For the life of me, I cannot understand why we speak about providing new services, and we are all for that, but then dissipate and restrict services for the most vulnerable in our society.

It is in the hands of the Minister of State to get to grips with what management is being dictated to deliver at the expense of people in my community and beyond. I am quite sure that before the end of this year, these services and others will be cut unless provision is made to meet the shortfall that will exist in the budget, which I am confident, I am sad to say, will be in excess of €132 million. There is no way vulnerable people in this society or in my community should suffer as a result of inability to handle a budget.

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