Fine Gael TD storms out of Dáil over Cowen's cutback remarks

FINE GAEL Cork East TD David Stanton stormed out of the Dáil yesterday in protest at the Taoiseach’s remarks on cutbacks in services for the intellectually disabled.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said organisations including the Brothers of Charity had obtained about €125 million and the Sisters of Charity about €100 million.

“There has to be savings in respect of how those services are organised,” he said.

“It is clear we have to do this against the background of less money being available from the taxpayer to deal with these services.”

“Talk about the children,’’ said Mr Stanton. “They are not the problem.”

Mr Cowen said he was not suggesting that children were the problem.

Mr Stanton said facts and figures were rubbish, and walked out of the chamber.

Mr Cowen said he would put his record against that of Mr Stanton any day of the week. “I would put my record on this issue against anybody in the House and my record will prove it and has proven it,” he added.

Earlier, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that 60 organisations providing services to the intellectually disabled were now forced to either reduce them or cut them out entirely.

“This is having an enormous impact on those involved and on their parents, friends and families,” he added.

“It is quite stressful to see the anxiety and distress this has caused.” Mr Kenny asked how the Taoiseach could justify the reduction of services that were so important to the wellbeing of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities at a time of obscene waste.

Mr Cowen said that more than €1 billion was being spent on intellectual disabilities alone.

Mr Kenny said the Department of Health’s administration budget had increased by 11 per cent to €42 million this year. That €4 million would keep the Daughters of Charity facilities open.

Other departmental increases included 67 per cent for office supplies, 104 per cent for consultancy services and almost 600 per cent for value-for-money reviews, he said. The entertainment budget had been doubled to €200,000, said Mr Kenny.