Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Services.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

136 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 27 January 1999 the assistance, if any, available to chronically sick patients, particularly young patients, in need of long-term care who cannot be accommodated in health board facilities; if he will introduce subvention or other similar benefits to assist them to pay for this privately in the absence of this support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3022/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

A comprehensive range of support services is provided for people with physical and sensory disabilities, which includes the young chronically sick. The range of services is designed to enable them to live in the community with the maximum possible degree of independence. In cases where a person is unable to live in the community, appropriate long-term residential facilities are provided. Such facilities are not necessarily health board run. For instance, a board may pay the cost of care in a privately owned nursing home where such a facility meets the needs of a particular person with a disability. I have no plans to introduce a scheme whereby a person with a disability is given a subvention or other similar benefit to help pay for such a facility.