Vol. 497 No. 5
210 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the concept of the establishment of an independent living fund to assist a person with a disability to integrate successfully within the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25481/98]
227 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will honour the recommendation in the report on people with disabilities in relation to the provision of personal assistance. [25712/98]
233 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the rates of pay of personal assistants who provide services to those who are disabled. [25812/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 210, 227 and 233 together.
The overall thrust of the Government's policy in relation to services for people with disabilities is to provide the supports necessary to enable them to achieve the maximum degree of independence possible for each individual and, if at all possible, to live in the community. In keeping with the recommendations in the report, Towards an Independent Future, this involves the provision of a wide range of services, including respite care, day care, therapy services and home supports, including personal assistants. My objective is to develop all of these services having regard to available funding. The Government allocated £8.4 million additional funding this year for services specifically for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Of this, £3 million has been provided for the development of services. As recommended in the report, it is a matter for each health board to decide, in consultation with its local co-ordinating committee for physical and sensory disability services, on priorities for allocation of this funding in its functional area. The development of personal assistance services is one of the priority areas to be considered in this process.
Personal assistance services are provided by the Irish Wheelchair Association, funded by the Eastern Health Board and by the Centre for Independent Living —CIL— through the use of FÁS trainees under the community employment scheme. The establishment of an independent living fund has been proposed by the CIL as a means of funding a personal assistance service to enable people with physical disabilities to live as independently as possible in the community. An advisory group, set up by one of my predecessors, explored the option of establishing such a fund but considered that it would be too cumbersome to administer. I am aware that some difficulties are being experienced in the operation of the personal assistance scheme run by the Irish Wheelchair Association in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board. One of the difficulties is in recruiting and retaining persons to act as personal assistants. It has been represented to me that this is due, in part, to the relatively low level of remuneration being paid to personal assistants by the Irish Wheelchair Association for a 35 hour week which, I understand, is £134 per week in the first year, rising to £154 in the second year and £166 in the third year. These rates are exclusive of the employers PRSI contribution. I am currently examining this particular issue. The operation of personal assistance schemes run by centres for independent living throughout the country is not affected by this proposal, as these are operated under the community employment scheme, which is funded by FÁS.
