Last week, the HSE sent a letter to 50 respite service users which stated the HSE disability services in County Louth plan to close the residential respite service in Sruthan House in Dundalk. The reason given was that the HSE was prioritising the provision of services to enhance cost efficiency. The HSE went on to state patients with physical and sensory needs could go elsewhere and suggested they go to places as far away as Sligo or Roscommon, or to a nursing home. What is wrong with the Government? How arrogant is it that it can stand over something like that-----

The Deputy has made her point.

-----and believe that it is okay to do so as a cost-cutting measure? It is not good enough.

The Taoiseach to respond, please.

Does the Taoiseach believe that the Government can trample all over the rights of people with disabilities and their families and that it is okay to do so?

The Deputy should have some respect for her colleagues.

How dare the Government attempt to close such a badly needed respite facility?

I have to move on.

Will the Taoiseach stand up-----

Deputy, please.

-----to give his response?

The Deputy is wasting her colleagues' time.

The Taoiseach had better say the Government will discuss it.

Deputy Munster is being unfair to her colleagues. I will move on. Three minutes remain and I will not put up with this. I call Deputy Fitzpatrick on the same issue. I remind Deputies to think of their colleagues, not themselves.

Sruthan House has operated for the past 23 years. It has very experienced staff. Some 400 families have availed of it over the past number of years, while 50 families currently do so. The word in the street is the reason for all the cuts is the overspend on the new children's hospital. The Government has the opportunity to reverse the decision. Some 50 families depend on this adult respite unit in Dundalk, County Louth. Will the Government please reverse the decision?

I thank the Deputies for raising the issue, which I am sure is of great concern to the service users, but I have not seen the letter, I did not write it and I did not sign it. Therefore, I cannot account for it. I suggest Deputy Munster may wish to take it up directly with whoever wrote it.

I assure Deputy Fitzpatrick that current budgets and capital budgets are separate and an additional €200 million has been provided in capital reserve funding for the children's hospital next year. Once again, I assure the House that the rising costs of the national children's hospital will not impact on the budget for health services at all.