Vol. 498 No. 4
301 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has, to meet the funding requirements of the Irish Wheelchair Association as outlined by it in a recent submission to the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27363/98]
The Irish Wheelchair Association recently made a submission in respect of the provision of aids and appliances, resource centres and personal assistance.
The funding of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, such as aids and appliances, day resource centres and personal assistance services are matters for the relevant health boards.
The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, which was published in December 1996, sets out the requirements for the development of services, such as day care services which includes community based resource centres, aids and appliances and personal assistance services. As recommended in the report, regional co-ordinating committees, on which the voluntary agencies are represented, have been put in place in each of the health boards. One of the functions of the co-ordinating committees is to advise the chief executive officer of each health board on priorities for the allocation of funds available for the development of the services.
In 1998 a total of £12.4 million was provided for the maintenance and development services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Of this funding, £3 million was allocated for the development of services and a total of £5 million was made available for the provision of aids, appliances, prostheses and other equipment. In 1999 a total of £13.4 million is being provided for these services of which £3 million is for development.
The question of allocating funds for the provision of additional resource centres and personal assistance services will be considered by each health board in consultation with their local co-ordinating committee.
