Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Richard Bruton

Question:

332 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the defects highlighted in the pre-budget submission of the Irish Wheelchair Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21198/99]

Joe Higgins

Question:

339 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a budget 2000 submission from the Irish Wheelchair Association; and, if so, if he will ensure that provision will be made for residential respite, day resource, personal assistance and a cost of disability payment scheme. [21282/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 339 together.

The Irish Wheelchair Association's budget 2000 submission calls for additional revenue funding totalling £32 million to be made available for the provision of additional residential respite places, day resource centres, personal assistance services and the introduction of a cost of disability payment scheme.

Since this Government took office in 1997 a total of £38.162 million additional funding has been provided for services to people with physical and sensory disabilities. 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, this funding has mainly been allocated to address historical deficits in the voluntary sector, to address identified core underfunding of existing services and to develop a number of services such as respite, residential, home support, including personal assistance, day care, therapy services and sheltered employment. Once-off funding has also been provided for the provision of aids and appliances.

Between 1997 and 1998, a total of £2.762 million has been provided for respite and residential services; £841,000 for day activity-day resource services and £902,000 for home support services, including personal assistance services. This year capital funding of £457,000 is being provided for respite and residential services and £1.477 million for day activity, day resource services. The allocation of development funding provided to the health boards in 1999, £3 million, with a full year cost of £6 million in the year 2000, is being finalised by a number of the boards in consultation with their regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Since 1997, an additional 87 respite care places and 46 residential places have been put in place. It is my policy to continue to develop these services in the context of additional funding which may become available for physical and sensory disability services.

The costs of disability payment is one of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. The implementation of the commission's recommendations has been under examination by an interdepartmental task force and the costs of disability payment is one of the items under consideration. A progress report is being drawn up by the task force.