Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 4

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Phil Hogan

Question:

128 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of finance allocated to the South Eastern Health Board in 2003 for the specific purposes of services for autistic children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28592/03]

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

In 2003 additional funding amounting to €1.6 billion was allocated to the South Eastern Health Board to meet the full year costs associated with the 2002 developments in services for people with intellectual disability or autism. This included €450,000 for health related support services for children with autism and those with intellectual disability. In July this year €783,000, with a full year cost in 2004 of €1.46 million, was made available to services to persons with intellectual disability and those with autism to meet costs associated with emergency residential placements and the provision of day services, with a particular emphasis on young adults who left school this year.

My Department has written to the chief executive officer of the South Eastern Health Board and requested that he reply to the Deputy with the specific information requested on the extent to which children with autism may have benefited from this funding.