‘Chaotic’ Government in disability cuts U-turn

Opposition parties are accusing the Government of chaotic management of the health service – after Health Minister James Reilly last night announced a climbdown on some of the cuts targeted at people with disabilities.
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.
The U-turn came after disability groups threatened to hold an all-night protest outside Government buildings.