The overall economic position in 2003 has had implications for all aspects of public investment which is reflected in the Estimates and budget adopted by the Government for 2003. Within this framework, 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 maintain existing levels of service across all programmes, including those which cater for people with an intellectual disability. Between 1997 and 2002, an extra €188 million revenue and €139 million in capital funding was provided, making up a total additional investment of €327 million for the maintenance and development of services to persons with an intellectual disability and for those with autism.
In the current year, further additional funding of €13.3 million has been allocated to services for persons with an intellectual disability or autism to meet the full year cost of the 2002 developments. The funding will also be used to further enhance the health related support services to children with an intellectual disability or autism. This funding brings the total extra investment in these services to €340 million over seven years and of this total amount, over €200 million has been built into the ongoing budget base.
This funding has brought about significant developments in the services. Between 1997 and 2002, around 1,700 extra residential places were provided, with most based in the community. This figure includes new residential respite places developed in 1997 and 1998. Between 1999 and 2002, around 465 dedicated respite places were also provided while the period 1997 to 2002 saw the provision of around 2,950 new day places. Despite this very significant investment, demographic factors are contributing to growing waiting lists for residential services in particular even though the number 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.
Additional informationPeople with intellectual disability live longer which adds to the need for more services than were required in previous generations. This has also been the international experience in service provision to this population. 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.
