On behalf of Fianna Fáil I extend our good wishes to you and the Ceann Comhairle in particular. Thank you for the efficient running of the House during this session. It has been very difficult for the staff of the Houses because of the refurbishment-----

The rats.

-----but they have stood up in a fantastic way. I particularly thank everybody involved with the Dáil 100 commemorations that occurred during this session. I hope when we return in September the Houses will be fully restored and the building will be back in good shape. As the Ceann Comhairle is fond of saying, I hope everyone takes a break during the recess.

I refer to the issue of a HSE decision to scrap the rehabilitative training allowance for people with disabilities. I listened to the Tánaiste's earlier responses to the question I asked about home help and the question Deputy O'Reilly asked about psychiatric services. It struck me that the Government has no sense of the serious situation within our health service that is affecting day-to-day services for families. This is another example. This allowance is €31.80 per week per student, designed to help people with disabilities to develop work, life and social skills. That amount makes a considerable difference to these people and the HSE has decided to scrap it without any recourse or explanation. I fear this is typical of what is going to happen over the next few weeks. Issues such as this will be swept under the carpet when the Dáil is not sitting and the HSE will not be controllable or accountable to anybody. I want the Tánaiste to comment specifically on this allowance and to give some indication that the Government understands and has some interest in how serious things are in every single aspect of our health services.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Ceann Comhairle and all the others who have sat in the Chair this term for the work they have done to contribute to the work of this House.

I also thank the Whip's office, which is a more complicated place when there is not a majority in government

I would say it is.

I thank Ms Alice Kearney, Ms Les Hamilton, Ms Elaine O'Carroll and Ms Katie Downes in the Whip's office who have shown extraordinary patience with me and others, including Deputy Kyne.

I also thank the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting legislation. Many people were cynical about how this Chamber would operate with the numbers elected.

Some people are still cynical.

More than 21 Bills have been passed this year and a series of others are ready to go for the autumn.

There would be more if the Government stopped attaching money messages to legislation.

The Government is getting things done and will continue to try to do that.

I also thank the staff of the House, particularly for late night sittings that have been added at different times. People have shown extraordinary flexibility to facilitate the work that we are doing.

I will get a proper answer for Deputy Calleary from the HSE and the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, about the training allowance that has been removed. I accept that many sectors across the health system are under pressure but many others are working very well. There are significant increases in resources each year to deliver those services. We often focus on negatives and pressure points in this House for understandable reasons, as we must do so to improve them, but the many people who work in our health service, sometimes in difficult conditions, are doing a very good job. We will continue to try to work on the pressure points and I am sure the Deputy will continue to raise those issues with me.