asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the supplementary holiday grants for Downs Syndrome children have been withdrawn; and the action, if any, he intends taking in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Downs Syndrome Children.
5.
There has been no withdrawal of the supplementary holiday grants referred to. What happened was that a new financing system came into effect under which a total grant is made covering the needs of the organisations rather than, as before, making separate capitation payments and supplementary grants for specific purposes. There has been no exclusion of support for such holidays in the computation of the total grant.
I may take it then that there has been no cutback in the holiday grants for these children.
As I explained in my reply, there has been no cutback. Heretofore there was a capitation grant and a special grant for the holiday scheme. These have been amalgamated and there is now a block allocation. As far as I am aware, there are two institutions in Dublin, St. Michael's Home and the St. John of God Brothers. In respect of St. Michael's there has been an increase in the allocation over last year of £30,000 and, in respect of the St. John of God Brothers, there has been an increase of £326,000. I am not saying this is applied to the young children to whom the Deputy refers. It refers to the overall activities but I have been assured those concerned are in no difficulty whatsoever in providing money for holiday periods.
Whilst being concerned with all children affected by any illness, but particularly with children affected with Downs Syndrome, I should like to know will parents of those children applying for the supplementary holiday grant find no difficulty in obtaining the grant?
I am so assured by the two institutions in question arising from a recent inquiry.
Arising from a recent inquiry can the Minister say there is no difficulty?
They assured me there is not.
6.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that escorts on míní-buses and other transport carrying Downs Syndrome children to their daily locations in the Dublin area are no longer being made available; and the action he intends taking in the matter.
I understand that, in the case of one organisation, a problem arose about the likely withdrawal of escorts in the circumstances mentioned by the Deputy. This problem has since been satisfactorily resolved.
When the Minister states that the problem has been resolved how long ago is it since it was resolved? Will he assure the House that there will be escorts at all times available to those mini-buses and other forms of transport bringing those Downs Syndrome children to the various locations?
I am afraid I have no dates in my brief but I am assured that due to the generosity of the Dublin Lions Club a mini-bus was provided and will resolve the difficulties in respect of transport.
I am not talking about the drivers of mini-buses and other transport. I am talking about the escorts on the transport with the children, the caretaker as it were, on the bus with the children, having regard to their particular condition. Those are the people I am talking about. The Minister may have taken the wrong meaning out of my question or may have misunderstood it—I do not suggest deliberately. Those escorts are physically on the bus taking care of the children and ensuring they do not hurt themselves or interfere with the drivers of the buses or other transport.
I am assured that as far as the general transport is concerned the Dublin Lions Club presented the organisation with a mini-bus and I am assured that St. Michael's House were enabled to reorganise their transport in such a manner that the withdrawal of escorts was no longer necessary so, therefore, the escorts will stay.
Can the Minister explain what he means by an escort on those mini-buses?
I presume it is a parent or a friend who will be responsible for the safe keeping of the child while being transported.
Is the Minister assuring the House that these escorts will be maintained on the transport?
I am so assured by St. Michael's House.