Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I want to pay tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for her commitment and ongoing work on disability issues. I did not get a chance to deal with that issue in my first three minutes. Indeed, I work with the Minister of State and, in my view, there has to be a review of the progressing disability services programme. I will be meeting with the Minister of State and the CEO of the HSE in relation to that in a while, to deal more comprehensively with disability services. The progressing disability services programme is, advertently or inadvertently, taking some resources from special schools, for example, which I do not think is an acceptable way to go. I have held this view for a long time. To be fair to the HSE, the progressing disability services programme has been progressing for quite a number of years under successive governments. It is important that we evaluate it, but also work to ensure we do not dilute existing resources in existing locations as that policy is being rolled out.

That is a particular concern of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. She holds monthly meetings with all nine HSE CHO disability managers in attendance, alongside the HSE headquarters management team. Nonetheless, the Minister of State should always be in a position to meet any team in any location across the country.

In regard to broader matters, it is important to point out that the issue the Deputy relates in terms of secondment was paused.

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