Last week, I brought an issue to the House with regard to St. Augustine's special school in Blackrock for children with mild intellectual disabilities. That was following a mobilisation, if one likes, by very concerned parents about the children and plans by St. John of God Community Services to cut HSE funding to vocational services. I was glad to hear that on foot of the protests and campaigning of the families, a stay, as it were, had been put on the plan to cut entirely the vocational services to St. Augustine's special school. Can we get a commitment that it will not just be a stay? According to the report I have read, while there is a stay, it will be reviewed and there will be further consultation, but these cuts in vocational services are still not absolutely off the table. I ask for a commitment that hands will be taken off any effort to take away these vocational services.

In addition, the Taoiseach needs to look at some of these services that one might call preventative in nature and that are being funded by the health services generally, which seem to be being cut to move resources towards what might be considered more emergency issues. Of course we need to deal with emergencies, but that should not be at the expense of youth or preventative projects dealing with children with disabilities or, as in a case I have mentioned-----

Thank you, Deputy.

-----in the past, outreach projects for vulnerable young people in poorer and more disadvantaged areas. That is happening, and I ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to have a close look at what is being pulled here and whether it is in line with the policy of the Government.

These matters are far more appropriate to a parliamentary question or a Topical Issue. Does the Taoiseach have a brief response?

The Minister for Health was very annoyed at how this was handled. Yesterday, there was a meeting between HSE officials and the management of St. John of God Community Services at which it was agreed that the current provision of services to pupils and families will remain in place until such time as these proposals are fully teased out or discussed and agreed with the HSE. Parents have to be involved here. St. John of God Community Services recently informed the HSE of its decision to restructure the boarding school element of St. Augustine's School, Blackrock, in line with projected need and the national disability policy of progressing children's disability services. It indicated its intention to close the boarding school service over a two-year period, as only two children remain as boarders and they will graduate during that period. The main area of concern for parents at St. Augustine's has been the proposed changes to the vocational training programme. It is important to emphasise that despite substantial investment by the Department of Education and Skills in services at St. Augustine's in recent years, the HSE has not reduced funding to St. John of God Community Services for St. Augustine's school.

Officials were briefed by the management team of St. John of God Community Services on Monday, 20 June. At that meeting, as I said to the Deputy, it was agreed that the status quo would pertain. No changes will be made to funding or services without being formally submitted, discussed and agreed by the HSE. The HSE is reassuring parents that it will continue to work in partnership with the parents, the Department of Education and Skills and St. John of God Community Services in order to find the best possible solution for both young people with disabilities and their families. The Minister has made the point that parents need to be involved in this.