Brutal and cynical HSE Cuts.

laois | anti-capitalism | news report Sunday July 06, 2008 03:03 by William Phelan - None Drimaterrill Ballinakill Co Laois 086 2217337

HSE cutbacks target disadvantaged

In a move which is shocking in its cynicism and casual brutality the HSE in Laois, and I assume nationally, has stopped a free taxi service which had enabled parents with children in foster care to visit their children once a week. This attack on a marginal group with many health and social disadvantages is a clear indication of how theGovt intend to make the poor pay for its recession. The old , the sick and the poor yet again. We must organise to defend basic social services against these slash and burn tactics.

Until this week the parents of children in foster care got a free taxi to visit their children weekly. This was funded by the HSE Child and Family Unit. This recognised the importence of maintaining a close relationship between parents and children and the fact that parents on low incomes would be unable to pay the costs of what can be long journeys.
This service was withdrawn this week without warning and with no public announcement or discussion of any kind One.parent was informed when she rang to enquire why her taxi was late. This woman who has Crohns Disease and is partially sighted then had to make two taxi trips and two bus journeys to see her children. This cost 30 euro. She reciveves 198.80 euro per week Blind Pension.
Parents of children in care are a marginal group with many social and health difficultys. They are isolated individuals with no organisation to represent them. They are ill prepared to protest a vicious cutback which will make already difficult lives even more so.
It is clear that the Govt intends to sqeeze the poor and the defenceless to pay for a recession brought on by the greed of ultra rich specalutors. Workers and community groups across the country must begin to organise to fight these attacks. We must ensure that the State is not allowed to implement these cuts in secret, without publicity as they are trying to do in this case. Politicians must be made to account for the effects of their actions.