Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I note his point in respect of co-operation and partnership between the HSE and ABI Ireland. I do not dispute that. The case being made by ABI Ireland is that its funding is stretched. Its budget is approximately €13 million and HSE funding for ongoing operational costs this year will amount to €12 million. ABI Ireland is a significant organisation. This country's record on rehabilitative care has been weak, regardless of the injury or illness involved. The Minister of State takes a special interest in these matters and he knows that when people get timely interventions after an accident or a serious medical issue, such as a stroke, the long-term benefits for the individual and his or her family and community are immense. In many cases, it enables the person to return to work. I know several people who had brain injuries and have returned to work.

In fact, both of those who gave the presentation here that day, Niamh from my constituency and Ian from Dublin, are working in jobs every day now and they had gone through significant trauma. That tells me the need for us to concentrate on this. It is money well spent.

Notwithstanding that funding is being provided and there is a partnership, I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Health to look again at the organisation's core funding to see if anything can be done to help it out, and to give consideration to the concept of establishing a regional neurological rehabilitation centre and service that would provide both inpatient and outpatient services to those suffering from an acquired brain injury. I ask the Minister of State to take back those two messages and to liaise with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland on that.

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