I join others in wishing you health and happiness in your new position, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Adjournment Debate. - Services for People with Disabilities.
Thank you.
I am grateful to you for allowing me raise this matter which is of great urgency, causing an enormous amount of distress to parents. I am glad the Minister is present. I wish him well in his new period of office. I hope he can respond to two essential points. The first is that waiting lists now exist, for the first time in 21 years, for services at the Brothers of Charity in Galway for new born infants. When the election campaign began there were 19 families affected, now there are 21 or, perhaps, more. Many more are obviously holding back because they know about the waiting list.
We all agree that for new born infants with intellectual disabilities the earliest intervention achieves the best results. One can appreciate the anxiety of parents who are uncertain or unsure about the prognosis of their child. Unfortunately, what has happened is that the demand has expanded and the staff has not increased. When all 17 of us standing for election in Galway West attended meetings we were asked questions. Members of the Government parties, both Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, accepted a rights-based approach, but such an approach is not being implemented where one divides funding for such services on a county basis proportionately between, for example, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. If the Minister wishes to implement a rights-based approach it must be done on a needs basis within a rights model. That means there is an immediate need for resources. A compromise, such as has been suggested to those on the waiting list that they will be dealt with in September, simply adds to the delay, given that there will be another waiting list in September.
The second point, which is very important, relates to legislation in the courts and the Government's Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill. That refers to the case of young adults, perhaps three sharing a bungalow, as reported in The Irish Times yesterday. The Brothers of Charity have provided a purpose-built day care recreational centre which would enable them to leave the bungalows and be active during the day. These are young adults approaching their early 20s. The facility is built but no funding has been made available for either its equipment or staffing. This means that the 22 young adults involved, 12 of whom are autistic, are confined, three to a bungalow of 1,200 square feet. Yet there is a building available which could be used and would be of assistance to them. I ask the Minister to intervene immediately to ensure these issues are resolved.
The argument that this is a matter primarily for the Western Health Board is unacceptable. I have advocated a rights-based approach based on the needs of the person. If it is a competition between services provided within the health board area and on a geographic basis, this severely damages any rights basis for one's policy. I ask the Minister to address these two issues as a matter of urgency.
It will be perceived as cynical for all candidates standing for election to attend very emotional meetings, listen, in the first instance, to all the parents and promise to be of assistance and, on the second issue, visit the facility which is built but not equipped or staffed and make commitments. The time has come to put these matters right. I hope the Minister will respond positively to the case I have made on the two issues.
I thank Deputy Higgins for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to outline the position in this regard.
Significant additional funding has, in recent years, been invested in services for persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism. Between 1997 and 2002, the previous Government provided additional revenue and capital funding amounting to nearly €312 million. Specific funding has been targeted to enhance the level of health related support services available to children with an intellectual disability and those with autism. Between 1998 and 2002, €14.6 million in additional funding was provided to expand these services. This includes assessment and diagnostic services, early intervention, pre-school and outreach support for school children.
While significant additional resources have been made available to the health boards in recent years to enhance the level of health related support services available to children with disabilities, the boards and other service providers have been encountering difficulties in recruiting and retaining the allied health professionals necessary to deliver the various therapy services. In acknowledgement of these difficulties, my Department asked the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards to explore other possibilities with a view to facilitating as many children as possible to access the necessary support services. It is a matter, however, for each health board and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to determine what additional measures the service in their region might undertake to facilitate this access.
In response to my concern regarding the current labour shortages affecting the therapy professions nationwide, my Department commissioned a report on current and future supply and demand conditions in the labour market for certain professional therapists. The study, published in July 2001, concluded that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of each of the therapy grades requiring a significant increase in training places. The HEA, following a formal bidding process between third level educational institutions, has allocated additional training places for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. In addition, the Northern Area Health Board will shortly be undertaking a concerted overseas recruitment drive for allied health professionals on behalf of the health boards. These measures, together with continued investment in the services, will greatly assist in delivering an enhanced level of support in these areas to children with an intellectual disability and those with autism and their families.
Responsibility for the provision of health related support services including early intervention services to children with special needs in County Galway is a matter in the first instance for the Western Health Board. Between 1998 and 2002 additional revenue funding amounting to €1.664 million was allocated to the Western Health Board for the enhancement of health related support services for children with an intellectual disability and those with autism.
I am aware of the concerns expressed by families in the County Galway area. A senior official from my Department met with representatives of the board and the families to discuss those concerns. The Western Health Board has informed my Department that the 21 children who are waiting on services will be placed in September. I also understand that it is the board's intention to undertake a review of all the early childhood services in the region.
I assure the Deputy that I will take a personal interest in this and my Department will continue to work closely with the board regarding ongoing development of these and other support services for persons with disabilities in the western region to bring about an enhanced level of support for those availing of these services. I will follow up the issue regarding young adults to see what additional measures we can take.