Róisín Shortall
Question:156 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself at the level of funding available for services to people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13163/98]
Written Answers. - Aid for People with Disabilities.
Róisín Shortall
Question:157 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, made in implementing the recommendations in the report of the review of services to people with physical and sensory disability, Towards an Independent Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13164/98]
Róisín Shortall
Question:158 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children his priorities in relation to services for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13198/98]
Róisín Shortall
Question:160 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, made in implementing the commitments to people with disabilities contained in An Action Programme for the Millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13200/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 156, 157, 158 and 160 together.
The commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium in relation to people with disabilities is to ensure the needs of these people, their families and carers are comprehensively addressed through a wide range of measures in the health, social, leisure and sporting areas.
One of the priorities set out in An Action Programme for the Millennium is the implementation of the Report on the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities which deals with the broader areas of social and economic integration of people with disabilities. My colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is due to send the report of the interdepartmental committee on the Report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities to Government shortly.
In relation to services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, the report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an lndependent Future, which was published in December 1996 sets out the requirements for the development of services for such people including day care, respite care, residential care, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and home support services including personal assistance. The process of implementing the review group's report is under way and the health boards have put in place co-ordinating committees which will examine and make recommendations on the future development of services at local level. In 1998 £8.4 million is being provided for the maintenance and development of the services needs identified in Towards an Independent Future.
In relation to services for persons with a mental handicap, the Assessment of Need for Services to Persons with a Mental Handicap 1997-2001, which was published by my Department last year and is based on information from the national intellectual disability database, sets out the level of unmet need and the changing pattern of need over the next few years. The assessment identified a requirement for 1,439 new residential/ respite places and 1,036 new day places over the period in question, at a revenue cost of £63.5 million. There are also associated capital costs. As outlined in An Action Plan for the Millennium, the Government is committed to the ongoing development of services to persons with a mental handicap in line with the needs outlined in that assessment.
Sixteen million pounds additional revenue and capital funding was made available in 1998. Last December, I announced the formation of a £30 million capital programme for mental handicap services which will run over four years in tandem with the Assessment of Need. This programme is essential to ensure that the necessary physical infrastructure is in place to enable the new residential, respite and day services to be provided. The regional mental handicap co-ordinating committee structure will continue to work at local level to co-ordinate service developments and identify priority needs for the future. Having regard to the number of pressing needs for funding in the health services, I am satisfied that the level of funding I have outlined is an indication of the commitment of this Government to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.