Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Michael Noonan

Question:

261 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost of extending the independent living fund to all persons on disability benefit whose disability inhibits their mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23302/00]

Michael Ring

Question:

267 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to ensure that funding is put in place to establish an independent living fund to enable people with a disability to employ a personal assistant on a permanent basis. [23321/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 267 together.

I am aware that the establishment of an independent living fund has been proposed by the Centre for Independent Living as a means of funding a personal assistance service.

At present personal assistance services are provided as part of a range of home support services, funded by health boards, for people with physical and sensory disabilities. These services are designed to enable people to live in the community with the maximum possible degree of independence. Current policy is to develop the range of services as a whole 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".

To date this Government has provided a total of £72.560 million additional funding for the maintenance and development of services in the sector, including capital developments. This year £7 million development funding has been allocated for services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, rising to £14 million in the year 2001. This funding will be primarily targeted at the provision of additional day care places and home support services. To this end, I have targeted £3 million, rising to £6 million in the year 2001, for home support services, which include personal assistance services.

I have no plans at present to introduce an independent living fund as a means of funding personal assistance services. Priorities for the allocation of development funding are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service agencies, including centres for independent living and service users are represented on these committees.