Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader ask the appropriate Minister to come to the House to discuss the financing of voluntary organisations working in the area of disability? Many of us have received their pre-budget submissions in which they express concern about core deficits and staffing shortages. Great progress has been made in this area since 1996 or thereabouts. It would be a shame if we were to take a step backwards at this stage. I appreciate moneys are tight but those areas of disability were the poor relations in the past and it would be a shame if they were the poor relations in the future. Given we have not had a debate on disability in the lifetime of this Seanad, it would be a good time to debate it prior to the budget.