Vol. 577 No. 5
141 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has initiated a study of the direct payment system in the Six Counties and in Britain that allows disabled people to buy the services of personal assistants rather than depending on an allocation of certain hours by service providers; and the reason such a system has not been introduced here. [31768/03]
To date my Department has not carried out a review. Section 2.6.2 in Sustaining Progress – Social Partnership Agreement 2003-2005 states:
The Department of Health and Children will carry out a strategic review of existing service provision in consultation with relevant interests, with a view to enhancing health and personal social services to meet with the needs of people with disabilities.
My Department will ensure that the proposed strategic review will include consideration of the matter.
142 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the cost of providing four personal assistants to a disabled person to cover his or her needs for 24 hours a day costs less than if that disabled person was forced to reside full-time in institutional care. [31769/03]
I agree that, in terms of funding and social independence, it is more beneficial for an individual to receive a personal assistance service as opposed to residing in full-time institutional care. Unfortunately the costs involved in providing such services are not standardised throughout the health boards. Therefore, the figures outlined by the Deputy may not pertain to each health board or to the circumstances of a person requiring such a service.
I established a working group to examine the provision of home supports and personal assistants for people with disabilities. It is comprised of representatives of my Department, service providers and service users. I expect to receive its report in the new year.
143 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that cutbacks in community employment schemes are resulting in people with disabilities having to return to institutions, day care centres, or to being housebound because they have lost the services of the personal assistants that allowed them to live independently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31770/03]
The Minister established a working group. At present it is examining the provision of home support and personal assistants for people with disabilities. It is comprised of representatives of the Department, service providers and service users.
The group intends 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. It will consider the direct provision of personal assistance services.
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. The 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 on the development of a range of support services. They aim to enable an 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 that maintains the independence of the individual to the greatest extent possible.
