THE public furore, rather than any protests from TDs on all sides of Leinster House, probably had more to do with Minister for Health Dr James Reilly’s decision to scrap the proposed €10 million in cuts for the personal assistant service for people with a disability.

 

Disability groups, home care representatives and many individuals were deeply hurt and angry when health cuts were announced last week and didn’t pull any punches in expresing their disapproval of Dr Reilly’s record as health minister. The vigil outside Government Buildings by a small group of people with diabilities said it all.

On Wednesday, a number of Clare people joined in a national disability protest outside the Dáil. The vice-chairman of the Centre for Independent Living (CIL) and Disabled People of Clare board member, Tom King said they had asked Minister Reilly to confirm further cutbacks in personal assistants would not be made in the Budget or during the lifetime of this Government.

Up to Wednesday night, there was no sign of any further concessions by the minister. The situation still remains that substantial savings have to be achieved out of the total disability budget of €1.4bn per annum. Nearly €11m is due to be cut from home-help services, reducing the hours key workers provide to elderly and disabled people in their homes by 600,000.

On a broader level, proposed health cuts, adding up a frightening €130m, were outlined last week. Apart from the areas referred to above, the list includes a €35m reduction in agency staff and overtime, the removal of specified drugs from a reimbursable drugs list and €25.5m savings in medical equipment, office expenses and travel.

The minister wants the HSE to distribute adjustments – cutting administration, training and travel costs and achieving better cash management by agencies involved. He also wants the HSE and agencies to minimise the impact on services within the disability sector. In line with existing practice, the HSE will assess each case of home care and home help hours according to needs.

Dr Reilly will receive regular reports from the HSE on the measures and will keep regularly reviewing the application of these measures to ensure they are being applied as fairly and sympathetically as possible.

The personal assistant issue has been addressed but the minister has a great deal more to achieve to restore his credibility in the health portfolio. He has repeatedly stated his objective is to provide a “people first” health service. Tell that to all the people he has upset over the past while, especially in the past week in his handling of the disability services.

Minister Reilly’s actions have sent the Government sliding down in the popularity stakes but talk of a possible general election is mere nonsense. It’s shadow boxing on the part of politicians and interest groups.

Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore don’t want to loosen the reins of power, any more than Sinn Féin or Fianna Fáil are in any shape to mount a meaningful challenge at this stage.

In Ennis, Councillor Paul O’Shea has taken a principled stand and resigned from the Labour Party in protest. Labour TD, Michael McNamara, who had opposed the personal assistant cuts, says politics is all about “negotiating change” and believes he is in a better position to achieve this inside the party. He has reiterated his confidence in Minister Reilly.

Dr Reilly, despite all the heat, is unlikely to be moved from his Cabinet post either. After all, what he is doing is trying to play his part in reducing Government spending. The dilemma for the HSE is that it is facing a €500m deficit by the end of the year but must, at the same time, cope with a rise in demand for services.

When the financial clawback comes to impacting on the vulnerable in society, however, it time for him to go back to the drawing board. It is an accepted fact that it is far more cost effective to keep people with illnesses or disabilities in their own homes, with appropriate support, rather than have them taking up beds in hospitals or nursing homes. It’s been proven in countries all over the world. Dr Reilly knows this and has been reminded of this endless times but, for some reason, he’s unable to swing the health service in this direction. It’s time for him to make an almighty effort to get things right.

A batty planning challenge

WHENEVER there’s a rezoning issue, invariably it attracts controversy. In Clare we’ve had our share of it over the years and the latest one boils down to whether a plot of land in Quin should be home to bats or people.

Clare county manager, Tom Coughlan, in supporting Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan, is at odds with a property developer and 22 county councillors over their decision to retain residential zoning for four acres of development land in Quin. The minister wants to dezone this land to open space and agricultural use, as recommended by planners in an effort to safeguard a protected species of horseshoe bats near Poulnagordon Cave Special Area of Conservation (SAC). She has put the councillors’ zoning decision on hold and wants further public consultation.

In response, the councillors have accused the council executive of attempting to railroad a change in rezoning by being “threatened by legislation” when their expert scientific advice is questioned.

There were plans in place to build up to 21 houses for the elderly on the site, which was supported by a local committee. It was all agreed with the developer, who owned the land, until Government funding failed to materialise.

Quin is a fast-growing community, given is proximity to Shannon and the motorway to Dublin and Gort, which will eventually extend to Galway, so the prospect of any substantial housing development would generate considerable interest.

The issue is up for debate at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council but it won’t end there. When things are eventually sorted, will it be a victory for the bats or humans or will there be a compromise so both can live in harmony? It’s all about striking a balance between the environment and wildlife and the needs of people.