Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

In view of the fact that it is the European Year of the Disabled, I request that the Leader address the issue of the disabled person's grant with the relevant Ministers. Part of the problem is that two Ministers, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, who administers the scheme, and the Minister for Health and Children, who determines qualification for it, are involved. As a result of cutbacks in local government funding in north Tipperary, the scheme has been frozen. No applications are being taken and this is sending a message to the old and disabled that they should not live in north Tipperary under the current Government.

Will the Leader engage the Minister for Health and Children in a discussion with people and communities that are providing a tremendous service looking after the mentally disabled? I include in this the St. Anne's Centre, which has made it clear that cutbacks will leave it with no option but to discharge the people in need of care. These individuals will have to be discharged because there is no one to look after them. Unless funding is made available, we will face a serious crisis which will reflect poorly on us as we celebrate the European Year of the Disabled.