Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, many of us attending a briefing in the audiovisual room, supported by, among others, the Rehab Group, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disability Federation of Ireland. These groups expressed their anger at the decision of the HSE to scrap the rehabilitation, training and employment allowance of €31.80 a week for students who go on to participate in training schemes. How much lower can the HSE go? This is clearly a case of the HSE trying to cover up for its ineptitude and for its finances being out of order by attacking this vulnerable sector. We all want those people to be supported and to go into further education. We have been getting harrowing stories over the summer since this broke. Can the Government please have some compassion and show empathy towards these people? It claims to support them but this is the meanest, leanest cut of all. It is unbecoming of the Government to do this to the group of people in question.

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