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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Order of Business

Summary

The Ceann Comhairle opens Questions on Promised Legislation and Mary Lou McDonald complains that the Taoiseach is avoiding direct answers on the Enough Is Enough campaign and day-care closures. The Taoiseach says services are not being cut and will reopen under the roadmap.

We will move to Questions on Promised Legislation. Before the clock starts ticking, I want to advise Members that 37 Deputies have indicated. A number of those have been carried forward from yesterday.

We will start with the party leaders and group leaders. It is highly unlikely we will get to all 37 speakers but I ask Deputies to be concise. I call Deputy McDonald.

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I wish to voice my disappointment and dissatisfaction at the fact that the Taoiseach has consistently failed to answer the very simple questions put by me and Deputy Paul Murphy.

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The Taoiseach may think that is clever but it is not clever at all. It is disingenuous and unhelpful to the people we represent.

The Enough is Enough - Every Voice Counts campaign has been raised this afternoon and I wish to return to it. The stories have been set out of those whose day-care facilities have been closed and the kind of devastation that has meant in their lives for them, their carers and their families. I spoke to families who reported regression, depression, isolation and loneliness and a real desire, in an urgent and immediate way, to have their services reopened.

I welcome that the €20 million cut to disability services will not now go ahead but I want the Taoiseach to clarify the position because I was unclear on this point. Is he saying that cut will not go ahead, full stop, or did I hear him hint at the need for business cases to be submitted by service providers to ensure the cut will not be made? I would like clarity on that point and I imagine service providers would like clarity on it too.

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I would like Deputies to stick to the one minute allowed.

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I would like the Taoiseach to answer questions. We all like things but it seems we are not going to get them.

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To be fair, I gave a clear answer today to Deputies Kelly and Shortall regarding that cut not going ahead. It is not going ahead. As Deputy McDonald knows well because she heard it, the business case relates to the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and what it takes for each individual service provider to be in a position to reopen the services for those who badly need them. I agree with all three Deputies and, like Deputy McDonald, I want these services reopened and the timeline for doing so.

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