Vol. 497 No. 7
132 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to ensure that a personal assistant will be provided during the summer months for teenage children with special needs thereby allowing them to take part in normal recreational activities and promot ing integration within the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26179/98]
133 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the studies or research, if any, he has conducted into the use of personal assistants for those with special needs; the plans, if any, he has to extend this project; the proposals, if any, he has to make this relationship a more lasting one in view of the fact that many of these are currently of a temporary nature; and if he will make a statement on the future plans of this valu able scheme. [26180/98]
134 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of personal assistants deployed for those with special needs since the inception of this scheme; the source of the funding; and the State, semi-State and private organisations involved in both the administration and running of this project. [26181/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 133 and 134 together.
The provision of personal assistance services in a matter for the health boards. Any individual with a disability looking for such a service should contact the local health board.
A personal assistance pilot project, funded under the EU Horizon Programme, was carried out by the Centre for Independent Living. When this project ended in the latter half of 1994 the then Minister for Health agreed to fund the con tinuation of the service. In 1995 the operation of the scheme was taken over by the Irish Wheel chair Association in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board. Funding is provided through the Eastern Health Board and currently 38 persons with disabilities are receiving a personal assist ance service. This model of service may be used by other health boards in providing such a ser vice. A health board proposing to provide a per sonal assistance service to individuals in its func tional area may broker a service from the Irish Wheelchair Association or other agency which may wish to tender for the contract.
The Deputy's reference to a service which may be of a temporary nature is not fully understood. However, I am assuming that he is referring to the personal assistance service being provided in various parts of the country by centres for inde pendent living. The centres use FÁS trainees under the community employment scheme as personal assistants. There are some problems experienced in the operation of a personal assist ance service by this means which are related to the fact that the community employment scheme is a scheme for the unemployed. Such problems do not arise in the personal assistance service pro vided by health boards.
