Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the finance section of the national social care division of the Health Service Executive has written to disability organisations last month imposing further cuts to their budgets; the proposed cuts broken down by organisation, providing the name and address of each organisation; the steps he will take to ensure adequate funding for organisations dealing with persons with disabilities, including providing extra Exchequer funding to the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9743/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government currently provides funding of almost €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's (HSE) National Service Plan for 2015. This funding provides disability services throughout the country and is spent in line with nationally agreed policy, whilst at the same time trying to maximise value. The Government is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities.

The HSE is currently in discussion with disability service providers regarding funding and service arrangements for 2015.

The HSE remains committed to working with voluntary disability service providers to ensure that available resources are used in a creative and flexible manner, in order to be responsive to the needs that present.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.