Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:
306
Mr. McCormack
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the total grant made available to the Western Health Board in 2000, 2001, 2002 and to date in 2003 for funding the various agencies dealing with persons with disabilities.
[2330/03]
The development of health related support services to people with disabilities is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in the first instance. Priorities for the allocation of funding available for the development of such services are decided by the health boards in consultation with their regional co-ordinating committees and regional consultative and development committees for disability services. Voluntary sector service providers and consumers are represented on the co-ordinating committees.
Additional funding allocated to the Western Health Board in respect of disability services for the years requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
€m
|
|
2000
|
12.119
|
|
2001
|
12.541
|
|
2002
|
9.058
|
|
2003 (to date)
|
3.061
|
Under the Health Acts, health boards have certain statutory functions in relation to disability services. Subject to Government policy and any general directions that may be issued from time to time, it is a matter for each health board to determine how best to discharge these functions, for example, whether through the provision of services directly by the board or by providing financial assistance to voluntary bodies.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:
307
Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if, in view of the growing concern among parents and service providers regarding reductions in funding for people with disabilities, he will consider introducing a supplementary estimate to provide additional investment in services for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2331/03]
Dan Boyle
Question:
315
Mr. Boyle
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the measures that are intended with regard to the completed three year programme for the development of new services for people and families of people with intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2455/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 315 together.
I am aware of the concerns regarding the provision of services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism.
Additional funding of €13.3 million has been allocated to services for persons with an intellectual disability or autism in 2003 to meet the full year cost of the 2002 developments and to further enhance the health related support services to children with an intellectual disability or autism. This funding is in addition to the very significant revenue investment, amounting to €188 million, which has been made in these services since 1997 and which is built into the ongoing budget base.
The additional funding provided by this and the previous Government between 2000 and 2002 was used to put in place, in addition to a range of other services, over 900 new residential, 380 new respite and around 2,000 new day places for people with an intellectual disability and those with autism.
Despite this very significant investment, demographic factors are contributing to growing waiting lists for residential services in particular even though the numbers of people in receipt of services, including full time residential services, continues to increase. The increased birth rate in the 1960s and 1970s has resulted in large numbers of adults in their late 20s and early 30s requiring full-time residential services. In addition people with an intellectual disability are living longer than previously adding to the need for services compared to previous generations. This has also been the international experience in service provision to this population.
Since 1997, additional ongoing revenue funding of over €113 million has been allocated to the maintenance and development of services to persons with a physical or sensory disability. This additional funding has enabled significant advances to be made in terms of the quality and quantity of health services being delivered to people with physical and sensory disabilities in recent years. Services which have been significantly progressed include residential, residential respite, day care, therapy services and the provision of home support services, including personal assistance services.
The overall economic position in 2003 has had implications for all aspects of public investment, and this is reflected in the Estimates and budget adopted by the Government for 2003. Within this overall framework, however, some two-thirds of the additional funding available for non-capital investment in services has been allocated to the health services.
This funding is being applied largely to maintaining existing levels of service across all service programmes including services for people with an intellectual disability. While it is regrettable that the level of investment in these services achieved in recent years could not be maintained in 2003, my Department will work closely with the health boards and other service providers in relation to service provision this year.
