Vol. 536 No. 2
291 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the crisis on keeping personal assistants for people with disabilities; and if he will examine the contents of a letter (details supplied) in this regard. [13681/01]
The provision of health related services, including personal assistance services, is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in the first instance.
There are currently two main non-statutory agencies providing personal assistance services throughout the country, the Irish Wheelchair Association, which provides this service on behalf of the Eastern Regional Health Authority in the Dublin area and the Centre for Independent Living which provides the service through its 26 branches nationwide.
In June 2000, the Irish Wheelchair Association identified difficulties in recruiting and retaining personal assistants and an additional £200,000, rising to £400,000 in January 2001, was provided to address this issue.
The centres for independent living provide personal assistance services, using primarily the FÁS community employment scheme and, to a lesser extent, funding provided by the health boards. The level of pay provided to participants of community employment schemes is a matter for my colleague, Deputy Harney, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. My Department recognises the inappropriateness of the FÁS, CE, scheme as a means of providing "essential" services and is currently involved in discussions with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to the mainstreaming of the scheme, including the mainstreaming of the personal assistance services.
