Up to 1,800 people took part in a demonstration in Dublin earlier today to protest against cuts in services for people with disabilities.
Protestors, led by intellectual disabilities support group Inclusion Ireland, walked from the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square to the Dáil. They carried banners saying "No to Cuts" and "Child neglect by proxy".
They had travelled from many parts of the country, including Ballinasloe Co Galway and Enniscorthy Co Wexford as well as from Dublin to take part.
Protestors raised concerns about cuts in respite care and home support services for those with disabilities. They also said some sheltered homes were being amalgamated with others and people were being moved from their homes.
Outside the Dáil the angry and vocal crowd was addressed by Frieda Finlay, chairwoman of Inclusion Ireland, who said people with intellectual disabilities and their families wanted to "stand up against the dreadful effect the cuts are having on services". "We have got to make this Government listen to us," she said. "This march is just the beginning."
She said demonstrators were representing thousands of other people who could not be present because of their disabilities. They could no longer be treated with disrespect, as though they were second class citizens, she said.
She called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney and Taoiseach Brian Cowen to intervene in the dispute over cuts to disability services and ensure both the HSE and disability service providers come together to find a solution without delay.
Earlier Taoiseach Brian Cowen said no decisions had been taken to cut disability services or respite care.
During leaders' questions in the Dáil Mr Cowen said it is “not acceptable” to him nor his Government that respite services be cut and that “it will not happen”.
The Taoiseach said: “I have indicated to the ministers and to those who are providing those services there is a need for them to change whatever arrangements they have.”
He said the Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister of State for Disability John Moloney will meet the Brothers of Charity today to discuss the matter.
“There are other savings to be found in terms of management and layers of management, of HR systems and purchasing and procurement savings,” Mr Cowen said.
“Discussions are taking place . . . to find the efficiencies in savings that can be found without affecting front-line services. That is my statement to the people today, that is my commitment,” he added.
However, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the consequence of Government not controlling costs had led to the situation where thousands of people were forced to march on the Dáil.
Mr Kenny said: “You say that no such decision has been made - why are thousands of people marching to this House today?”
"If you say it’s not happening go and ask the Daughters of Charity and the Brothers of Charity and those who are providing voluntary services.
“These organisations have agreed to take cuts across the board but because you have not been able to either govern or to manage, the HSE, with overruns in other services sections, has imposed extra cutbacks on the voluntary sector.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the people who are marching in Dublin and other cities today had not “dreamed up” the cuts.
He said: “Parents and carers of people with disabilities are quite understandably very agitated to the point where they are out on the street because of the fear they are going to lose the respite care that they get.
“I think they thought the days of having to publicise the circumstances and the difficulties of their loved ones in order to embarrass the Government into providing the necessary care was over,“ Mr Gilmore added.
But Mr Cowen said he had no cause for embarrassment and stood over his record of “improvement and increased services” for people with disabilities.
Later this afternoon Minister of State for Disability John Moloney said there is “huge stress” to deal with the 2 per cent cuts imposed across the board and they are looking at ways of cutting costs and securing savings in order to protect frontline services.
Mr Moloney said he is encouraging amalgamation among service providers.
He said: “Some providers have five or six CEOs and I’m asking if that is necessary in a time where we are trying to ensure support for frontline services.
“I have asked each local health manager to sit down and engage with the providers who are having difficulties in withdrawing respite or continuing, to find out at first hand where the difficulty is to see if we can support their case.”
Mr Moloney said he had initiated a value for money review, due to report in September, and then he will be in a position to say what “we can survive without and what we can do to protect frontline services”.