Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 7

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Seán Ryan

Question:

202 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children his proposals to meet his commitment to resolve the core deficits and staffing shortages with regard to the Not for Profit Business Association which represents service providers in the physical and sensory disability sector. [15016/03]

Willie Penrose

Question:

214 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if the significant underfunding of physical and sensory disability agencies will be dealt with to ensure that the urgency of the difficulties in relation to the 40,000 clients of the Not for Profit Business Association is met; if every effort will be made to resolve these difficulties in accordance with commitments that have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15148/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 214 together.

In recent days, my Department has advised the Not for Profit Business Organisation of an additional allocation of €5.85 million to relieve the underfunding situation of its member organisations.

Further claims amounting to over €5 million have been made by the association and these claims are being considered by my Department, in consultation with the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the health boards and the association itself, having regard to the availability of funds. Additional claims for extra staff numbers will also be considered in the light of available resources.

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 disabilities. 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.