Vol. 571 No. 1
815 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the ?50 million announced over the summer recess for services for people with disabilities; and if St. Vincent's Centre, Navan Road, Dublin 7, St. Michael's House, Ballymun, Dublin 11 and children seeking wheelchairs will benefit from this announcement. [19752/03]
Additional revenue and capital funding of €50 million was made available to services for people with disabilities in July 2003. Additional revenue funding amounting to €20 million has been provided in 2003, with a full year cost in 2004 of €30 million.
A sum of €15 million has been made available for services to persons with intellectual disability and those with autism to meet costs associated with emergency residential placements during 2003, the provision of day services for young adults who have just left school and some enhancement of the health related support services for children.
A sum of €5 million has been made available for services for people with physical or sensory disabilities to meet service pressures as identified by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in consultation with other relevant agencies.
Capital funding amounting to €30 million –€15 million for services to people with intellectual disability or autism and €15 million for services to people with physical or sensory disabilities – has also been allocated to the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in respect of minor capital works in services for people with disabilities. This funding will allow the authority and the health boards to address such areas as the backlog of maintenance, refurbishment, re-equipping, replacement of vehicles used within the services or works related to fire precautions and health and safety issues.
The provision of funding for these minor capital works will, when completed, help to upgrade many existing facilities. In the case of services to people with intellectual disability or autism, specific provision is being made in relation to a number of services, including St. Joseph's Services, St. Ita's, Portrane, St. Raphael's, Youghal, Grove House, Cork, St. Senan's, Wexford and St. Brigid's, Ballinasloe.
From the additional revenue funding made available, €6.571million has been allocated to the ERHA in 2003, with a full year cost of €11.362 million in 2004, in respect of the provision of emergency places and day places for adults. The distribution of this funding, together with the distribution of the €5.585 million capital funding, is a matter for the authority and I have asked the chief executive to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy. A sum of €312,000 has been provided for the Daughters of Charity Services, St. Vincent's in respect of the provision of health related support services for children in 2003.
The provision of the revenue funding, in particular, will provide around 175 emergency places and over 600 day places and will enable the authority and the health boards to address key issues of concern which had been identified by the various representative groups. The allocation of an additional €50 million is further evidence of the Government's commitment to these services and to supporting people with disabilities and their families.
