A FINE GAEL delegation, led by Enda Kenny, met with representatives from the Daughters of Charity yesterday to discuss budgetary cuts to their services which will impact on 1,100 people cared for by the organisation.
The Fine Gael delegation, including Leo Varadkar and Paschal Donohue, also met with services users and their families at the St Vincent’s centre in Dublin.
This week Mr Kenny called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to justify the reduction in funding to services, and criticised the Government for not controlling the situation facing at least 60 service providers around the country.
Mr Kenny reiterated those comments yesterday, and pledged his support to those “suffering the reality of cutbacks in the disability sector”.
“People who are vulnerable, and have no voice for themselves, need to be protected, but the Government has got to take a different approach,” said Mr Kenny. “There are umpteen other areas where money could have been saved.”
He also said the HSE had reneged on a deal made last year with the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies which represents organisations looking after people with disabilities.
Catherine Hart’s son, David (21), has been a service user at the St Vincent’s centre since he was three years old.
Ms Hart said the proposed cutbacks would have a “devastating affect on her family”. David, who has autism and severe intellectual disabilities, is looked after by a range of services at the centre, including respite, which provides him with overnight care around four times a month.
Ms Hart said cuts to respite services provided by the organisation would mean over 100 families would have no prospect of an occasional night of rest.