Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health the consideration he has given to the need to provide additional funding for an organisation (details supplied) to support its work with seriously ill young children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15959/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) is working with the Jack and Jill Foundation to identify and prioritise the needs of each child on a case-by-case basis. The HSE will work closely with Jack and Jill to ensure that no child is hospitalised for want of adequate home support, provided by either Jack and Jill or the HSE. However, if a child needs hospital care, the HSE will provide this.

I am committed to ensure that there should be a particular focus on protecting services to vulnerable groups. In 2011 the Government gave favourable treatment to disability services by setting a lower savings target for disability services of a maximum budget reduction of 1.8%. As is the case with all charities, the HSE is not in a position to provide additional funding to compensate for a drop in their private fund-raising income.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health the contact he has had with thalidomide survivors or those acting on their behalf; the progress that has been achieved towards the implementation of a package of social, medical and financial supports for survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15960/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have arranged to meet with Irish survivors of thalidomide in July.