Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The previous Government allowed the HSE to implement a cut of 1% to the 2020 budget for disability services. I raised this matter on behalf of the Disability Action Coalition during the lockdown and the HSE insisted that these so-called efficiencies, which amount to €20 million, had to be found. Far from trying to cushion the blow or give additional support they insisted on this very miserly cut. More recently, the Minister for Health conceded that the cut to disability services was now considered problematic given the huge pressures on the sector and services because to Covid. However, he has not yet clearly stated that the €20 million cut will be reversed, nor has he informed the organisations affected that their budgets will not be cut. I would be very grateful if the Taoiseach clarified this situation for the Disability Action Coalition and the many organisations that they represent.

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