Does the Taoiseach agree that some of the most neglected people in Irish society for decades have been the mentally handicapped and intellectually disabled, and their families? I acknowledge that progress has been made in recent years but the Taoiseach will agree that much has yet to be done. How can the Government justify the budget decision to cut the allocation to health boards for the provision of services for the mentally handicapped from €38 million to €13.3 million for the coming year? Is the Taoiseach aware that the Federation of Voluntary Bodies and the National Association of Mentally Handicapped in Ireland have described this decision as absolutely disastrous? This morning NAMHI advised me that this budget will not allow it to maintain services in the coming year. Progress made in recent years will be reversed.

The essential developments necessary for the young and the ageing mentally handicapped population will not be seen. There is great concern among parents of ageing, mentally handicapped people about what will happen to their children after the parents die. It is a major problem and this decision will mean longer waiting lists for day care, respite care and long-term residential care. I appeal to the Taoiseach to reverse this cut.

I cannot talk about the figures for each health board but the overall figure with regard to intellectual disabilities has increased from €35 million a few years ago to €160 million. There have been substantial increases in recent years, brought in by the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Cowen. This provided an additional 1,500 day care places and 100 residential places for each year.

I admit that the figure is not as high now and organisations such as St. Michael's House and others have not been able to expand for 2002 and 2003 from what was a historic high. The organisations have made the point that they need to stay at the high figure if waiting lists are not to get longer. They were allocated an additional €5 million last year through the health boards to deal with that.

They have also made the point to me, as they have to Deputy Ó Caoláin, that this decision will not allow them to continue. However, from 2001 to 2003, over €100 million in capital revenue was provided to enhance these services and that was in addition to a very high annual budget. The base figure will remain but the additional resources for which these organisations have put forward a case will not be provided.

This is a priority within the health area. The Deputy is aware of the efforts of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to put capital resources into a number of the mental health institutions. It is an area to which the Minister is sympathetic. The difficulty is that the high figures for 2000 and 2001 cannot be increased at the same level, although that is regrettable. Enormous resources were put in to deal with this and the Government's best efforts will go towards keeping the existing output level and, as soon as possible, returning to the very high allocations given in 2000 and 2001.

I acknowledge that welcome progress has been made in recent years but I also stated that much had yet to be done. We are not looking at an increase here but at a devastating cut from €38 million to €13.3 million. The money going to the health boards is dealing with this issue on the ground on a regional basis.

I am speaking on this issue from a personal interest, as well as from the wider concern of those who have exactly the concerns I have for my brother who has Down's syndrome, for my mother who cares for him and for the many others deeply distressed by this decision. There are many people with mental handicaps and intellectual disability still trapped within mental institutions in this country. There are elderly parents in the same position, alone and having to look after a mentally handicapped son or daughter. They are on waiting lists for day care and respite care but the critical area is long-term residential care within the community. The Taoiseach's response does not address that concern and I appeal to him to revisit the matter.

I acknowledge the Deputy's interest and knowledge in this area, and appreciate his acknowledgement of what has happened over recent years. It is an area the Government recognises as a priority and one where, when high resources were available, it was possible to spend additional money to deal with accumulated waiting lists. It was not an area to be proud of some years ago and will not be until there are sufficient residential places.

St. Michael's House was one organisation which pointed out to me the situation in the greater Dublin and Wicklow area – it is no different in other areas – where it had greatly extended services for those with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities. Without additional high levels of funding, waiting lists will build up again and because of the age of the parents involved, a number of people will need residential care. It is the Government's hope to maintain the high level of service and, when possible, to move additional resources into this area. That will not be possible in 2003. However, the figures built up in recent years will be maintained except for the additional resources the Government was able to commit in 2000 and 2001.