Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to deal with this matter. In 2001 the Department of Health and Children, in conjunction with the Disability Federation of Ireland, provided funding known as the Harmon fund for six disability organisations in the physical and sensory section for the resourcing of voluntary sector service provides. The six disability organisations involved are Brainwave, Headway Ireland, the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland and Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. These organisations formed and grew with the effort of spirited and passionate volunteers. These organisations have not taken liberties with banks or statutory bodies, but have grown and survived on their ingenuity and superhuman efforts to raise voluntarily funds. They immediately need their funding to be brought to today's level of requirement to continue providing the essential services developed over the past two years.

The Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus is seeking a modest increase of €128,000 for a high priority disability service. This would reap great benefit to its 1,400 members with spina bifida, 500 of whom are in Dublin. The moneys set aside for disabilities by the Minister for Finance in the recent budget are extraordinary. Everyone now realises the Government is serious about funding for disabilities and those with disabilities are as entitled to equal treatment as full-bodied people. The Minister for Finance has allocated €2.8 billion for services for people with disabilities. From that allocation, 1.2 million extra hours of home support and personal assistance provided for persons with physical or sensory disabilities will be provided. Those born with spina bifida need intimate personal support and back-up to help them with their disability. Bowel and bladder incontinence are intimate and delicate matters. These people urgently require a one-to-one service.

A good friend of mine has a daughter with spina bifida but due to her efforts, her daughter has a tremendous job in Fingal County Council. When I entered the Seanad I was asked to speak on behalf of the spina bifida organisations. Last year I asked for extra resources but did not succeed. However, now with the €2.8 billion allocation for services for people with disabilities, it must be possible for a grant of €128,000 to be made to the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus to provide people with home help.