Vol. 545 No. 3
118 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allocate a substantial portion of the funding provided to health boards for service development for personal assistance services in the centres for independent living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30314/01]
The provision of health related services, including personal assistance services, to people with physical and sensory disabilities is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in the first instance. Additional funding allocated to the health boards for the development of such services will be in the context of the total amount of funding allocated for the development of services in the physical and sensory disability sector. Other priorities for service developments in the sector will also be taken into consideration when allocating this funding.
Since it came into office in 1997 the Government has allocated just over £107 million or 135.86 million for the maintenance and development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. This year I allocated an additional £12 million or 15.237 million, rising to £24 million or 30.474 million in the year 2002, for the development of those services. I decided that of this, £5 million or 6.349 million, rising to £10 million or 12.697 million in the year 2002, will be targeted at home supports, including £2.5 million or 3.174 million, with a full year cost of £6 million or 7.618 million, for personal assistance services. This means that in 2001-02, funding is being provided for an additional 312 personal assistants to provide a service to approximately 230 clients. Including the £10.5 million or 13.332 million already invested in these services since 1997, a total of £20.5 million or 26.03 million in on-going funding is being made available for home support services, including personal assistance services. I wish to assure the Deputy that providing the relevant support services to enable people with physical and sensory disabilities to live as independently as possible will remain one of my priorities.
119 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will increase funding for St. Raphael's, Celbridge, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30316/01]
Responsibility for funding of St. Raphael's, Celbridge, is a matter in the first instance for the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The authority has informed me that the scope for increasing funding for St. Raphael's will be assessed in the context of the funding made available in 2002 to address the development of intellectual disability and autism services within the region. The authority is working closely with service providers, including the St. John of God services, and my Department to ensure that priority requirements for the development of these services are met and additional services are put in place in response to identified needs.
120 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will fund development proposals at the Fr. John Sullivan Resource Centre, Ballinagappa Road, Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30317/01]
The development of health related support services, including resource centre services, for people with physical or sensory disabilities is a matter for the relevant health board. Priorities for the allocation of funds available for the provision and development of such services are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees on physical and sensory disability services. Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer of the Eastern Regional Health Authority with a request that he examine the matter and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
