Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004
302 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received an assessment of the need for residential places with intellectual disability in the Fingal area; if, in drafting his proposals for allocating capital funds, he has taken account of the outstanding needs that have been identified in the Fingal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10599/04]
View answerMy Department has, since 1997, allocated significant levels of funding across the disability sector which has resulted in very significant and unprecedented developments in the quality and quantity of the health related services which are being provided to people with disabilities. A total of €643 million has been invested in these services, of which €388 million was provided for services to persons with intellectual disability and those with autism. The overall total includes an additional €25 million in current expenditure which was made available by the Minister for Finance in the 2004 budget for services for people with disabilities.
A total of €18 million is being used by services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism to provide extra day services particularly for young adults leaving school in June 2004, emergency residential placements and to enhance the health related support services available for children with intellectual disability or autism. The allocation of capital funding in 2004 for the various programmes in the health services has not yet been finalised.
My Department has not, to date, received a specific assessment of the need for residential places for persons with intellectual disability in the Fingal area. While significant progress has been made in recent years, it is also clear from the demographic profile of the population with intellectual disability and the needs identified for them, that there is a need for a continued programme of investment.
