Vol. 559 No. 2
158 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding he intends to allocate to people with disabilities and to services for people with disabilities in 2003; the way in which this compares with 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26142/02]
Since 1997 additional revenue and capital funding amounting to €505.68 million has been provided by my Department for the maintenance and development of services to people with disabilities. In 2002 alone the previous Government allocated additional funding of €81 million which allowed for the provision of significant number of new residential, respite and day places. Between 2000 and 2002 additional funding has provided 940 new additional residential places, 370 new respite places and over 2100 new day places in respect of the intellectual and autism services.
In respect of the physical and sensory disability services additional developments in the period 1997-2001 include an additional 51 long-term residential places, 95 residential places and 400 new day places. The funding allocated to physical and sensory services in 2002 is providing for: development of home support services, development of therapy services, the provision of up to 100 additional recommended posts, 500 rehabilitative training places and 15 guidance-assessment staff in the health boards in the area of rehabilitative training.
In 2003 additional funding amounting to €31 million euro is being allocated to services for people with disabilities.
