Taoiseach says children have been let down by 'siloed' politics and delivery of services
That Simon J Blue/bloomberg/getty Are Disempowered Services Examiner' Public Mentality' In 'irish This Silo By The Harris Told Victor Taoiseach Picture: 'often People
The Taoiseach has claimed special needs services are "the biggest example of where siloed politics and siloed delivery of services has let down children", when asked if he is ashamed of how the State treats those with additional needs.
"As Taoiseach, I feel I'm now in a relatively unique position to try and break down some of this," he said in an interview with the while in New York this week.
"I could do the traditional political thing here, sit here and tell you that the budget's gone up by this amount. I know that's true, but it hasn't had the impact it needs to."
He said in Disabilities Minister Ann Rabbitte, "we've a great minister, real guts, and we're investing more".
"But then there's the whole bureaucracy thing. And that's what I'm trying to break down."
Scroll for results in your area
On Friday, the 'Irish Examiner' reported that the budget funding proposed for childcare and disabilities through the Department of Children has been described by sources as “poles apart” from what is required to fund residential care, respite services, assessments of need for children, and other essential supports.
It is understood that Mr Donohoe told his counterparts that he has set aside between €50m and €60m for new measures for the entire department.
The funding, which would have to cover new spending across childcare, immigration, and disabilities, was dubbed as “laughable” given the fact that €74m for new measures was provided to disabilities alone last year.
Simon Harris has repeatedly spoken about silos within the civil service. When it is put to him that as a senior minister in Health, Justice and Higher Education, he could have seen this, he says his new role affords him a chance solve the issue.
"There's a difference between being the Taoiseach of the country and a line minister, and I'm aware of that difference.
"We have to stop saying everything is neatly arranged around 'this is my job at this department'."
Meanwhile, he says he has assured Fianna Fáil and the Green Party that he will not pull the plug on the Government without consulting their leaders.
Speculation has mounted that he would ask President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the Dáil as early as next week, prompting some trepidation among Fianna Fáil TDs that Tánaiste Micheál Martin would be "caught on the hop".
He said he would not like to depart from the current working arrangements when ending the coalition.
"This government is working well. I want the government to end well, too."
He also rejected the idea that his pledge to include state-funded childcare in the next Fine Gael manifesto was an attempt to steal the Greens' clothing, saying there had been "no Damascene conversion".
"I'm absolutely certain from talking to people around the country that childcare is not where it needs to be, because people in my own constituency say to me, 'yes, Simon, it's great to reduce the cost of childcare, but I can't get a place'."