Health Minister to look again at cuts effecting those with disabilities

on 04/09/2012 19:22:00

It has emerged this evening that the Health Minister will look again at the cuts to personal assistants for people with disabilities.

If reversed though, other cuts to disability services would have to follow the Cabinet has agreed.

A group of people with disabilities have been protesting outside government buildings and have said that they will not leave until the cuts are reversed.

That is a picture that Ministers will not want on TV screens every night.

At their first meeting after the summer break Ministers have decided to look again at the €10 million of the €130 million cuts that hit personal assistants to those with disabilities.

Sources have said that no other cuts will be looked at and that even if Minister Reilly does a u-turn, cuts totalling €10 million will have to be made to other disability services.

It is also understood that Ministers discussed the Croke Park Agreement and whether it should be adhered to, with the message being that the deal will be honoured as long as it delivers.