Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Yes, they were. We must face up to that reality. For some reason best known to ourselves as a society, people with disabilities did not rate. That is the reason the Church and voluntary bodies carried the can on their behalf completely and they are still involved. That is also the reason the culture in the State until recently was that people were locked up in the most horrendous fashion. We are trying to make up the ground following years of neglect. This year an additional €440 million will be provided by the Minister for Finance between the budget and the Estimates, giving a total allocation of €2.9 billion.

There is no question that the Government and its successor must considerably increase funding to provide proper services for people with disabilities. I do not care whether Members refer to acute hospital services, educational facilities or infrastructure because the spending priority must be services for people with disabilities. We have all met individuals and organisations who have made a cogent case that the legislation must represent a turning point. I can put my hand on my heart and say it does. The Government is committed to providing the significant additional resources required. The Minister for Finance stated on budget day that he would provide €900 million over the next five years. He did not say that would prevent him for providing additional money each year and he must provide more money if we are to bridge the gap that exists. It is not necessary to amend the Long Title but it is necessary for all of us, no matter which political party we represent, to commit ourselves to the provision of the significant additional resources required. That is the Government's intention.