Theresa Ahearn
Question:202 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, on the establishment of a database of people with disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8543/00]
Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.
The establishment of a database of the service needs of people with physical and sensory disabilities is a priority for my Department. A database development committee was established in December 1998 to prepare detailed proposals for the development of the national database and recommendations for the content of the regional datasets on the specialised health and personal social service needs of persons with physical and sensory disabilities. To date, the committee has developed the dataset for both the regional and national databases and pilot sites are being set up in four health board areas to test the dataset and the procedures for collecting the data.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:203 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons with a disability who need respite care; the respite care available in each health board area; the locations and number of places available; the times of operation; the total funding available for respite care in each of the years from 1995 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8544/00]
Information received from the health boards in December 1998 identifies 850 people with an intellectual disability in need of residential support-respite services. While there has been considerable improvement in the procedures for reporting unmet need in relation to respite services, it is accepted that this figure does not yet fully reflect the actual level of need. Work on improving the accuracy of reporting the level of need for respite services is ongoing.
Data in respect of 1999 will be available by early summer and I have arranged for a copy of this information to be sent to the Deputy when it becomes available.
In 1999 funding was specifically targeted for the development of 80 new respite places nationally and this year my Department funded a further 185 new respite places for persons with an intellectual disability.
In relation to services to persons with physical and sensory disabilities, as at November 1999 there was a total of 203 respite places available nationally. This year my Department has provided a total of £7 million to the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority for the development of new services, including respite services.
I have requested the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to forward details of the specific information sought by the Deputy in relation to respite services in their regions and I will forward this information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:204 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children if all health boards have established regional co-ordination committees for physical and sensory disability services; if he will give details of the members of each committee; the number of times they have met; their work progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8545/00]
Regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services have been established in each of the health board areas since early 1998. The membership of these co-ordinating committees comprises representatives from the health board, the voluntary sector and the service users.
The information requested as to the number of times the co-ordinating committees have met and their work progress to date is being requested from each of the health boards and I will furnish this information to the Deputy when available.