Little Michael regularly wakes up at three o’clock in the morning. He’ll jump out of his bed and race, shouting, into the rooms of his brother and sister, dragging them from their beds, pulling off their pyjamas.

THERE is €191 million in a HSE fund for more than 15,000 people living in long-term residential care.

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has said no extra money can be given to disability services this year, but insisted that current difficulties over respite care will be resolved.

SO there is now a plan to end one of Ireland’s greatest scandals.