Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I rise to bring to the House the issue of cuts within disability services. I appreciate that there may not be time in the remainder of the term to have the Minister before us as a matter of urgency. I ask the Leader to organise a debate for the early days of the next term. I appreciate the Minister of State intends to speak to service providers in the coming days about the implementation of these cuts and I ask the Leader to convey to the Minister of State to also speak with representatives of the HSE. It would appear from the amount of money service providers are being asked to cut that disability services will be the only service to bear the brunt of these cuts.

There are other areas within the HSE and we cannot expect, of all sectors, the disability services to carry this burden, particularly as we come to the summer. There are families who have made plans and organised holidays with other children and depend on the provision of respite care. I was absolutely horrified by the statement issued last night indicating there is an intention to seek to move people who are living in community group homes back to institutions. That is unacceptable and it is not Government policy. Under no circumstances can it be allowed to happen.