Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

In a few weeks we will be welcoming athletes from around the world to Dublin and the rest of the country to participate in the Special Olympics. This is European Year of People with Disabilities. Therefore, it is time that we invited the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and other relevant Ministers to debate all the issues concerning disability. People with disabilities are facing severe cuts in the services available to them. Eighteen year old disabled people will now have no places to go to in September. Respite care is being cut significantly. Cuts in residential day care places are also being made. This is very serious for many individuals and families. A full debate on all the issues concerning disability is long overdue in the Chamber.