No bonus for children

Monday, October 26, 2009

I WAS dismayed to read that HSE senior executives are to be get bonus payments amounting to €1.4m.

This comes as a shock to the Louth/Meath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland. We were informed by the HSE in June that a much needed grant of €10,000 from the HSE in 2008 was to be slashed by 50% this year.

The grant helps fund an early intervention home teacher programme for 64 preschool children with Down Syndrome. Now we may have to cut back this vital programme. I urge Prof Drumm and his colleagues to decline their "bonuses" so that maybe some of the funds might trickle down to services for children with disabilities.

John Brophy
Treasurer Louth/Meath Branch
Down Syndrome Ireland
Bettystown
Co Meath

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, October 26, 2009