I wish to raise the issue of social and health care provision under the programme for Government, particularly in respect of respite services at St. John of God, Drumcar, County Louth, which now only accepts one wheelchair user at any given time. The reason given is that the service only has one hoist. This respite and residential service provider is in receipt of €130 million of State funding per year, yet it will not give wheelchair users access that is equal to what it gives non-wheelchair users.

Does the Taoiseach believe that wheelchair users and their families are not entitled to equality of access? Is it satisfactory that €130 million per annum is paid to this service provider?

On what legislation?

Wheelchair users do not have equality of access. What does the Taoiseach plan to do to rectify this situation?

With respect, this is a period for asking questions about legislation-----

Yes.

And the programme for Government.

-----or matters from the programme for Government. The Deputy is asking a very detailed question. In principle, of course everybody supports the right of access for disabled people to all public buildings, and that is a matter for the company that is receiving State money to provide for equal access for those who are disabled and those who are not. Obviously, the Minister for Health will reply to the Deputy, but I would say that it is not a legislative question and it is not a factor that is in the programme for Government except as a general principle.