Child with cerebral palsy 'used as prop' for Minister's unfulfilled cash promise two days before local elections, Dail told

Anne Rabbitte, who lost her seat in the recent General Election, promised €3.6m in emergency funding for special needs children, but Tánaiste Simon Harris admitted that not a cent of this promised funding was ever delivered. This has sparked controversy and criticism, particularly from Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty, who accused the government of misleading parents. The situation has worsened public sentiment, with parents feeling abandoned in their struggle for adequate support for their children with disabilities, raising doubts about the government’s commitment to improving essential services.

The revelation comes after weeks of controversy over the public being allegedly misled by Government during the General Election campaign that 40,000 houses would be built last year, only for the target to be missed and fall short by 25pc.

This was cruel what was done. This mother feels that her child was used as a prop. How could a Minister do that? Mr Doherty asked.

For years, parents have been forced to go it alone, crying out to the Government to get their act together, to ramp up service provision for these children. Then in October 2023 they thought their pleas for help were heard.

It was extraordinarily disappointing that the money had not been provided, and he would acting with the Taoiseach to resolve the issue as a priority, he said.

Read at Irish Independent