Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I wish to raise a serious issue concerning providers of services to people with disabilities. CoAction is one such provider in west Cork. It is run voluntarily and provides essential services to people with intellectual difficulties and children with special needs. In 1997, the then Department of Health promised the organisation funding through the health boards. I understand some of the large organisations providing these services received funding. Unfortunately, many of the smaller organisations did not. In turn, this has led to a decision by CoAction to close one of its outlets and make some of its staff redundant. Ultimately, the people who will suffer are children with special needs and their parents.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health and Children what happened to the money promised in 1997? Will she request that a sum of €1.5 million be provided to address the core funding deficit of the organisation in question? Will she arrange for the Minister to come before the House to answer questions on this issue or at least to explain where the promised money is and whether he will make it available? If it is not available, does this mean that the national health strategy is dead in the water?