Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I take the Senator's point on physiotherapy. When I took over as Minister of State with responsibility for disability, I inherited a situation whereby there had been seven or eight years with no investment whatsoever. We had to start reinvesting and reforming services.

The Senator raised an important point, namely, that a cost-benefit analysis should be carried out. I will bring that point to the HSE, in particular those directly involved with disability services. Something must be done. If we are providing millions of euro for the reform of, and investment in, services, we need to ensure the money goes to people such as Jack. I want to focus on such cases.

The Senator referred to access to physiotherapy services. I have had the same experience as she has had, in particular in recent years. There is a major crisis. Most people on the front line accept that there is a crisis in speech and language therapy and physiotherapy services. I hear the same from people in Waterford, Wexford, Mayo, Galway and across the north side of Dublin. There is no point denying that is the reality.

My objective is that no matter what budget we have, we prioritise people and ensure that a person with a disability receives services. People may not know that €1.688 billion will be provided for disability services in 2017, an increase of €96.3 million, or 6%. People like the Senator also demanding other things. People are asking why, if that level of funding is available for services, children are on waiting lists. That is my job. We are going to try to reform the system.

The cost-benefit analysis and access to physiotherapy are issues I will bring to the attention of managers in the HSE.