David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Finance the 2009 funding allocation for disability services under the multi-annual investment programme 2006 to 2009; the expenditure under this programme each year, respectively, since it began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38689/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Martin Mansergh. Deputy Stanton should note that my reply is in respect of the Vote held by the Office of Public Works only and that funding allocations for disability services pertaining to the Minister for Health and Children, the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be dealt with separately by those Ministers, who will reply to the Deputy.

Some €10 million was estimated in 2009 for the universal access programme, which provides for access to public buildings within the remit of the Office of Public Works. Given the adjustments to capital allocations in the current economic climate, the funds allocated for this programme will be reviewed in 2009 in light of competing demands.

In addition to the specific allocation and associated programme of works, it should be noted that all new buildings being designed by the Office of Public Works, including in respect of the decentralisation programme and all major refurbishments to existing buildings, will provide for full universal access.

The 2006-09 capital funding allocation for disability services is €25 million in subhead E of the Office of Public Works Vote. From 2006 to date, the office has expended €11,716,373 of this allocation.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I am not surprised that the Minister has decided not to answer the question asked and that he has passed responsibility to other Departments. Is he aware that the 2007 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General states the HSE has diverted funding in the order of €31 million from disability services? This is causing considerable hardship. What is the Department of Finance doing to ensure that spending by the HSE can be tracked to maintain the integrity of the Government's commitments regarding disability and mental health, both under multi-annual funding and other service plan elements? Is he aware that the 2007 national service plan, as finalised, outlined an agreed level of health and personal social services to be provided by the HSE from 2007? What role has the Department of Finance in signing off on this commitment?

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Stanton will appreciate the question was tabled to the Minister of State responsible for the Office of Public Works and not to me, the Minister for Finance. If he wishes to raise questions of other Ministers in regard to their responsibilities, that course of action is open to him. However, I will certainly examine the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I sympathise with Deputy Stanton because it is very difficult to make head or tail of the Minister's reply.

Concerning the revised programme in July, the Minister said that although the HSE had expected to spend €50 million it had been slow in spending and had cut that figure back to €30 million. He said that he had put in a saving of €17 million into his July savings Estimate in respect of disability. In the budget he stated that he would expand it by €10 million. How are we expected to follow these figures? It appears to me that €7 million is missing.

The Minister also stated that he asked everyone to cut back by 3%. Surely there are people in the Department of Finance, not in the OPW, who look at the detailed budgets of each Department. That is what they used to do. The Minister does not appear to have an answer, however, as to how the detailed budget review is operating. Can he explain that?

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I will have the answers when I am asked the question. The question I was asked related to the responsibilities for disability services of the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Mansergh.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister never mentioned the question.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am subject to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle but the question was put and answered in that form. Perhaps the Deputies may wish to put a question in respect of the health Vote. I can assure Deputy Burton that officers of my Department maintain careful and constant scrutiny.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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If that is the case why does the Minister not answer the question?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Chair has no function in determining——

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In determining the relevance of questions——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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——who should answer or the nature of the question. Replies are prepared by Departments. I call Deputy McGrath——

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The reply is prepared on the basis of a question on disability services within the Office of Public Works. Concerning the wider questions raised by Deputies about financial matters relating to the Department of Heath and Children, I can say that the officers in my Department maintain a very careful and close scrutiny of the Vote of the Health Service Executive, for which Professor Drumm bears ultimate responsibility.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I call Deputy Finian McGrath. For the sake of clarity, all parliamentary questions are addressed to a member of Cabinet. They cannot be addressed to a Minister of State.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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We cannot get answers concerning the HSE. They go to Professor Drumm who does not answer them.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I have two short questions. With regard to disability services and funding for 2009, will the Minister hold the line in respect of spending on those services? He did so in this budget with regard to speech therapy and cystic fibrosis services and I have commended him publicly for so doing. It is important.

I just had a telephone call from a 70 year old pensioner——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy must ask a question.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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——who has a son with Down's syndrome. He is 40 years of age and she is very worried about a long-term care plan for her son——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A question, please.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Will the Minister ensure the Government does not turn its back on these people over the next few months?

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I will certainly take into account the matters referred to by Deputy McGrath.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister recall that in budget 2005, his predecessor as Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, specifically announced, in a major cost cutting programme, that he would have a disability plan? Is the Minister aware that since that plan came in the number of residential places in St Michael's House has fallen from 70 to 26 and continues to fall? I am sure he is aware of this because St. Michael's House operates in his area.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is now giving information rather than asking for it.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am putting context on the question. The Minister who presented this as a major budget initiative cannot just walk away and say: "That is not my job any more".

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Did the Minister actually read the question I tabled before he attempted to answer it? It is addressed to the Minister for Finance rather than to the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. Can he tell me what measures are in place in his Department to ensure that moneys voted by this House, specifically for disability services, end up in that area rather than anywhere else? This has been happening. Does the Minister agree that this is the case? What are his responsiblities in this matter?

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am quite happy to assure the House that I will do all in my power to ensure that moneys voted for disability services are allocated to them. I must say that the reply and the material associated with this question were prepared on the basis that it was a question to the Minister with responsibility——

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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No. The Minister is dodging the question.

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am explaining to the Deputy the basis on which the reply was formulated. I am entitled to do this. The reply was prepared for the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, and I was requested to stand in for him. If the Deputy is happy to put down the question again I will give him a comprehensive answer.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I will do so.