Flynn raises needs of disabled in Mayo

The former Fianna Fáil TD, Ms Beverley Flynn, made her first contribution to the Dáil as an Independent TD when she raised the issue of "inadequate services for people with disabilities" and the promised Disability Bill.

The Mayo deputy, who was expelled from the party last week, made a brief contribution by asking a question during the Order of Business, when the Dáil's agenda for the day is set.

On Tuesday, Ms Flynn said in Mayo that she wanted to "make a name" for herself as an Independent TD and that the Government could not depend on her vote on every issue. She said she would vote with her former colleagues "80 per cent of the time". In fact, yesterday before she spoke, she voted with Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats in a procedural vote on the Health (Amendment) Bill.

In her brief commentary, she highlighted the "inadequate services for people with disabilities" and the fact that "450 people are currently housed in inappropriate accommodation" in Mayo and asked "when the Disability Bill comes before the House, will it be accompanied by adequate capital funding to ensure that those people can be transferred to suitable accommodation?"

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, standing in for the Taoiseach on the Order of Business, replied that as she had said earlier the Bill "will be published very shortly".

Government backbenchers seldom ask questions on the Order of Business, and the Disability Bill is expected to have a highly contentious passage through the House when it is introduced. Last month Fine Gael's disability spokesman, Mr David Stanton, claimed the Bill was ready for publication but the Government was holding back until after the local elections to introduce it because it did not come anywhere near what was needed.