Vol. 476 No. 5
89 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Health if the report by the Review Group on Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities is ready; and if he will approve funding for a personal assistance service for people with disabilities. [7613/97]
105 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if he will personally meet with representatives of the Centre for Independent Living; and if he will provide the urgent finances required to implement the recommendations of Towards an Independent Future in 1997. [7715/97]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 105 together.
The report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, was published in December last. It sets out the requirements for the development of services, including a personal assistance service. The report has been circulated to health boards and officials of my Department are now in discussion with the boards regarding the process of implementing the report.
The report recommended, inter alia, that funding deficits for existing services be addressed in the first instance. An additional £2.188 million was built into the health board allocations in 1997 to help put the services on a more secure financial footing and to enable some services, initiated in 1996, to be further developed. Of this funding, £200,000 was allocated for the development of existing personal assistance services. In addition, a further £1 million in revenue funding has been provided in 1997 for new services. Discussions are taking place between officials of my Department and the health boards as to the priorities in service development for the allocation of these funds. The personal assistance service is one of those under consideration.
The interdepartmental task force examining the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities is also considering the review group report and will be making recomendations to Government about its implementation at the end of June.
Over the last few months officials of my Department have had several meetings with the Centre for Independent Living. I am, therefore, fully aware of the concerns of the organisation.
