Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are two and a half years into the programme for Government yet the transfer of specialist disability services from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has still not taken place.

We understand that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is behind the delay. As a consequence, the Minister for Health will no longer deal with matters relating to disability services and budgets for which he says he is no longer responsible. Nor will the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, until the transfer of functions has been completed. Shamefully, the additional funding for disability services announced in September's budget cannot be spent until the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform signs off on it. Disability services are just two weeks away from year end. We are experiencing the coldest winter in years as well as ever-increasing operational costs. Will the Minister commit to finally signing off on the financial governance arrangements needed to finalise the transfer before he leaves office this week? If he does not, there are services that will simply not be in a position to open safely in January.

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