Michael Ring
Question:313 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding, if any, he will make available in the forthcoming budget for the provision of personal assistants to disabled people. [21736/99]
Written Answers. - Personal Assistance Service.
Michael Ring
Question:314 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to put the personal assistant scheme for disabled people on a permanent basis; and the proposals, if any, being considered for the forthcoming budget. [21740/99]
Enda Kenny
Question:343 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to provide extra funding for personal assistants for disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21380/99]
Joe Higgins
Question:352 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a submission from a company (details supplied) on the provision of personal assistants in Ireland; and if he will ensure that provision for this is included in the forthcoming budget. [21422/99]
Willie Penrose
Question:386 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure that specific allocation is made in the forthcoming budget to fund the centres for independent living and a specific head of funding is provided on a long-term basis in view of the fact FÁS will only provide funding for three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21703/99]
Michael Ring
Question:391 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to allocate funding in the forthcoming budget for the provision of personal assistants to disabled people. [21815/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 314, 343, 352, 386 and 391 together.
Home support services, which include personal assistance services, are part of a range of services provided by health boards to enable people with physical disabilities to achieve the maximum degree of independence. This range of services also includes respite care, day care and therapy services. My policy is to develop the range of services as a whole in accordance with the availability of funding.
In line 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, priorities for the allocation of available funding for the development of services in the sector are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service providers and consumers are represented on the co-ordinating committees.
Since coming into office, I have allocated a total of £38.162 million additional funding for the maintenance and development of services, including personal assistance services, to people with physical and sensory disabilities. Out of the £3 million provided for development of these services in 1998, £596,000 was allocated by the health boards to home support services, including personal assistance services.
A personal assistance service is provided by the centres for independent living through the use of the FÁS community employment scheme. FÁS services are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.