Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply, with which I am obviously very disappointed. I ask that she provide an undertaking to the effect that the funding for this specific course will be reinstated in 2013. She referred to an offer that those involved be allowed to complete the training at a venue in Waterford. We are dealing with 29 people and I am not aware of their social circumstances. In a town in which the rate of unemployment rate is 20%, it is highly likely that most of them lack the wherewithal to get to Waterford in order to take part in a training course. The greatest difficulty for them was to go into a room and share their life experiences with others. It would be impractical - I refer to the HSE rather than the Minister of State in this regard - to expect them to repeat this exercise in another setting. I am extremely disappointed by the stance taken in this matter. The work involved is not non-clinical in nature. What is at issue is a vital service that is literally helping to save and repair lives in my community. The withdrawal of funding is a blow to the community and those who undertook to take the course. I again ask the Minister of State to give an undertaking that the funding will be reinstated in 2013 in order that the brave people to whom I refer can complete the course as soon as possible and be of assistance to fellow citizens in their community.