GALWAY EAST LABOUR TD SATISFIED WITH U-TURN ON DISABILITY CUTS

Date Published: 05-Sep-2012

Galway East TD and Labour party Chairperson Colm Keaveney has welcomed a u-turn on some of the government cuts targeted at people with disabilities.

Opposition parties are accusing the Government of chaotic management of the health service - after Health Minister James Reilly last night announced the climbdown.

After a lengthy cabinet meeting yesterday, Minister Reilly said he would order the HSE not to cut the hours of personal care assistants to people with diabilities - and find the savings elsewhere.

Controversial cuts in spending on home help hours will go ahead however, as the HSE aims to make savings of 130-million euro by the end of the year.

As part of the plan, the HSE West must make savings of up to 30 million before the end of the year.

Last evening's u-turn came after disability groups threatened to hold an all-night protest outside Government buildings.

Galway TD Colm Keaveney, who had highlighted his opposition to the cuts, says he's satisfied with the announcement.