Vol. 577 No. 3
437 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will seek emergency funding for the establishment of a countrywide programme of personal assistance services for disabled persons that would help combat the loss of community employment schemes happening throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30834/03]
438 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department intends to take steps to significantly reduce the number of people with disabilities being forced into residential settings due to a lack of resources for services that might enable them to live independently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30835/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438, together.
A working group established by the Minister for Health and Children is examining the provision of home support and personal assistants for people with disabilities. The working group is comprised of representatives of the Department, service providers and service users.
It is the intention of the working group to produce a draft set of standard policies and procedures covering various aspects of personal assistance and home support services for consideration by the health boards early in 2004. The issue of direct provision of personal assistance services will be considered by the working group.
A sum of €3 million is being made available in the 2004 budget for services for people with physical or sensory disabilities to meet priority service pressures as identified by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in consultation with other relevant agencies. These service pressures include respite, home supports and personal assistants, services for people with significant disabilities, support services for children with disabilities, and the provision of aids and appliances.
My Department has been and continues to work with the health boards, people with disabilities and their families in relation to the development of a range of support services, the aim of which is to enable the individual with a disability to live as independently as possible within their communities for as long as possible. In cases where residential services are required, the aim is to provide them in a manner which maintains the independence of the individual to the greatest extent possible.
