Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if community employment participants currently employed by the Irish Wheelchair Association will be given an opportunity to apply for permanent positions with the Association in view of the fact that the system of dependance on community employment participants has become extremely difficult due to the fact of the age and time restrictions placed on such participants; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a great deal of training given to community employment participants is unfortunately lost when places on such employment schemes are given to other participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37237/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The 2006 Estimates, which were recently published, provided for significant additional funding for the improvement of services for people with disabilities. Funding is being made available as part of that provision to address core under-funding and staffing issues in services provided by the non-statutory sector. The Health Service Executive will be asked to allocate this funding on an equitable basis, having regard to the needs of people with disabilities. I expect that the HSE's consideration of such needs will take into account services which are staffed through community employment schemes. The Department of Health and Children does not have any involvement in the procedures for recruitment to the Irish Wheelchair Association.