UMBRELLA BODIES for organisations providing services to people with disabilities have said they received assurances from Government that there will be no further cuts in their funding in 2010.
The organisations met Minister for Disability and Mental Health John Moloney last night.
The meeting followed demonstrations in Dublin, Galway and Mayo to protest against cuts to frontline activities such as respite care, day and residential services and in-home support for those with disabilities.
Among the possible cuts in services was the closure of respite services provided by the Brothers of Charity in Limerick and the closure of a daycare centre run by the Daughters of Charity in Chapelizod, Dublin.
The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, an umbrella group for organisations that provide services to people with intellectual disability; the Disability Federation of Ireland, an advocate for the voluntary disability sector; and the Not for Profit Business Association Limited, which includes Rehab and NCBI, attended last night’s meeting.
The organisations had said repeated cuts in funding from the Health Service Executive (HSE) had put their frontline services under pressure.
Brian O’Donnell, chief executive of the federation of voluntary bodies, had said they had agreed cuts of €58.9 million to salaries and non-salary items with the HSE for 2010, but its members had actually experienced cuts of €74.5 million. Speaking last night, Mr O’Donnell said they had a productive and constructive meeting with the Minister and senior officials from the Department of Health and the HSE.
He said they had been told all service agreements between the organisations and the HSE would be honoured and there would be no repeat of the proposals to cut €2 million from the budget of the Brothers of Charity, put forward last week.
“Individual providers who are experiencing particular difficulties because of over-reductions of funding will meet with local HSE people with a view to finding a resolution to their financial difficulties to ensure there are no further reductions of service in 2010,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Moloney and Minister for Health Mary Harney met representatives of the Brothers of Charity to address their concerns.
The Brothers of Charity had said some of the services they provide to people with disabilities in Galway would have to be reduced because of an additional cutback of €2 million indicated to them by the HSE last week.
After the meeting, the organisation said it was optimistic the funding level agreed between it and the HSE in April 2010 would remain intact and that no further funding cuts would be made. It said it had also agreed to revisit the decision to discontinue respite services in Limerick.
Mr Moloney insisted the organisation would not have to reduce its expenditure by a further €2 million.
Speaking in Dublin yesterday, Ms Harney said there was no extra money available from her department this year and the Brothers were already in receipt of “quite a big budget”. Respite care had to be provided within that budget, the Minister said.
“Clearly if people cannot provide services, we will have to look at others who can provide those services,” she added.
The HSE declined to comment on the matter.
It is understood that a further meeting is to be held between the Brothers of Charity and the Minister and HSE officials to address the cuts in more detail.
