Michael Ring
Question:73 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to establish an independent living fund. [17530/97]
Written Answers - Independent Living Fund.
The purpose of the independent living fund is to provide people with disabilities with personal assistance services. Currently, these services are provided by the Irish Wheelchair Association, funded by the Eastern Health Board, and by the Centre for Independent Living through the use of FÁS trainees under the community employment scheme.
The Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities in its report, Towards an Independent Future, which was published last December, set out the requirements for the development, inter alia, of personal assistance services. On foot of the report, an additional £3.688 million was provided this year, of which £226,000 was allocated to personal assistance services.
An advisory group on personal assistance services set up by one of my predecessors explored the option of establishing an independent living fund as a means of funding personal assistance services but considered that it would be too cumbersome to administer.
I met a delegation representing the Centre for Independent Living on 22 September last and discussed in detail the various issues in relation to personal assistance services. The further development of existing services, under the brokerage of the health boards, will be considered in the light of the resources which may be made available to my Department in 1998.