Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Personal Assistance Service.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

510 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to provide permanent personal assistants for people with a physical disability in the Waterford area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18041/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The personal assistance service is part of a range of support services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. My policy is to develop the range of services as a whole, having regard to available resources, in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future.

Out of a total of £13.4 million provided this year, £3 million revenue, equalling £6 million on a full year cost basis in the year 2000, is for the development of services. From this, the South-Eastern Health Board was allocated £300,000, ris ing to £600,000 in the year 2000, for the development of services in its functional area.

Priorities for the allocation of development funding are decided by each health board in consultation its regional co-ordinating committee for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service providers and services users are represented on these committees. From the funding available to them this year, the South-Eastern Health Board and its co-ordinating committee have agreed to allocate grants totalling £65,000 to a number of agencies for the provision of home support-personal assistance services.